Abia NMA threatens to shut down the health sector, if salary arrears owed it’s members were not cleared by Dec 8

The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State chapter, has said there is no going back on its earlier threat to completely shut down the health sector in the state, if salary arrears of doctors in the employ of the state Government were not cleared by December 8.

This was contained in a communique issued by NMA after its emergency meeting Sunday at its Aba zonal office, and made available to newsmen on Monday.

According to the communique jointly signed by the NMA Chairman, Dr Abali Isaiah; and Secretary, Dr Daniel Ekeleme, doctors in Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba, ABSUTH are owed arrears of 25 months while their counterparts in the Health Management Board, HMB, are owed for 13 months.

NMA decried the fate of the affected doctors, warning that if by the expiration of the deadline Government failed to heed its demands, the entire health system in the state would be crippled.

The Medical Association stressed that both public and private health facilities would be on lockdown until the backlog of arrears are defrayed adding that Government should be held accountable for the obvious consequences of the impending action.