What fools are kidnapping doctors?

I was going to write about deep vein thrombosis today. This is blood clot in the veins especially in the leg which can then travel to the lungs and cause sudden death. The article last week touched on this a little bit. I wanted to ask those travelling long distance to places such as the USA, China, India and other faraway places to be aware and ensure they actively protect themselves against this killer.

However, you have to wait till next week for the article. There is something very important to talk about this week. Yes, even more important than blood clots in the legs of travellers!

Strike Action

I heard that doctors in Portharcourt, Rivers State went on strike to protect the continued kidnapping of doctors in the state. This was a very timely and a decisive tactic seeking to draw the attention of the public and the government to this growing menace.

A female medical doctor, Dr. I. B. Apriokor, who works with the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, in Port Harcourt, Rivers, was kidnapped by gunmen in the state capital. She was on her way to church.

The only neurologist at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Obiabo Yahaya was also abducted by gunmen who trailed him to his house. He was said to have been kidnapped at about 8:30 pm while trying to enter his compound.

Further, three doctors who came to conduct medical missions were kidnapped in Imo State. It was reported that the three medical doctors had hardly arrived at their operational base at Isu local council area, when they were forcefully stopped by suspected kidnappers and taken away at gunpoint.

What planet are we on?

For God’s sake, how stupid can it get? What is going on in God’s own country? What fools see doctors, humanitarians, as targets for kidnapping? Doctors have been kidnapped in almost all states of the federation and very little has been done by the government. Do we know the numbers? Is someone keeping count? What is going on here? Sorry, but this is actually not normal!

Doctors heal

Doctors do not question who you are: rich, poor, male or female, God fearing or a criminal. We are sworn to treat everyone and give the best care regardless of your ethnic origin or religious affiliation. Doctors swear an oath that affirms that they are a valuable member of the society. That they are blessed with special obligations to all fellow human beings, those of sound mind and body as well as the infirm. Doctors are to preserve life and heal the sick so they can experience the joy of healing those who sought their help. Doctors are asked not to violate the oath so they can be respected while alive and remembered with affection thereafter. Not sent to the thereafter by kidnappers!

Biting the hand that feeds

You cannot then traumatise those same doctors, making them wary of all who come before them and therefore distracted from providing the care required. Doctors are slowly becoming endangered species and difficult to find on the streets of Portharcourt, Owerri and Akure. Perhaps we now need armed rangers and a fenced enclosure to keep the numbers of doctors from dwindling to zero!

The dangers 

Doctors are now difficult to identify as they strip their cars off all stickers saying, ‘DOCTOR’ or even any reference to the Nigeria Medical Association. It seems like this is akin to putting a target on your forehead saying, ‘here, come get me’. Many are now wary of going out late in the evening or once it is dark, for fear of being targeted. So, if you are going to be sick please ensure it is between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm in the evening.

Of course, doctors also have to protect themselves from attacks in the clinic and hospital. So, perhaps it is time to have massive gates and security in the hospital. Before anyone is admitted, they have to show their wounds, pregnancy with the baby’s head about to drop or even evidence of loose stool at the gates. We could have a closed circuit camera at the gates for history taking and even teach the security man how to take blood pressure and temperature. Only those with deranged blood tests to be allowed into the hospital and even then, the doctor will only appear after more verification of a real life situation...like imminent death of the patient!

Action stations please

Why is there no task force of crack detectives and smart policemen doing something about this? The Police in Imo State asked all public spirited individuals, community leaders, and other friends of the police, to come up with useful information that would burst this and other criminal activities in the state. 

While this is important, the Police authorities must actively cultivate and develop an intelligence gathering system and share information with other units throughout the country. Use technology and the teeming population of unemployed youths currently roaming the streets as informants and pay them for services rendered. There should be no hiding place for kidnappers in Nigeria.

Doctors need protection from kidnappers in Nigeria and the government must wake up to its responsibility of protecting all citizens. We cannot start telling you to do your job!