Medical consultants urge FG to restore peace

         FMC-Owerri

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, on Friday urged the Federal Government to take measures to restore peace at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

Prof. Balarabe Garko, the President of the association, made the appeal in a press statement made available in Kaduna.

The statement was also signed by the association’s Secretary General, Dr Abdulkadir Rafindadi, and Publicity Secretary, Dr Kunle Adesokan.

It said the crisis at the hospital was unnecessary and efforts should be made by all to restore normalcy.

The association noted that a section of the staff had been protesting the recall of the Medical Director, Dr Angela Uwakwem, after she was cleared of any wrong doing by the federal government.

According to the medical consultants, the government must “bring the full weight of the law to bear and promptly institute appropriate measures to immediately restore calm and guarantee security in the hospital.”

Is said the hospital remain the prime centre for specialist care in Imo State, and the continued disruption of its services would deprive citizens access to health care services.

“It is public knowledge that the Medical Director, Dr Angela Uwakwem, had been on leave to allow for detailed and unfettered investigation into allegations against her by members of this same union currently causing this crisis.”

The association urged the protesting union members to allow the rule of law to prevail.

“We advise the medical director to stretch the olive branch to all aggrieved staff and assure them of her cooperation and understanding.

“We also appeal to the protesting members of staff to sheathe their swords and allow peace return to the hospital in the interest of all.

“It is pertinent to remind all concerned that health emergency is no respecter of persons and can occur at any time, therefore, in the interest of all, we need to get the hospital functioning again,” it added.