National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
Doctors in Edo State, under the umbrella of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), have begun a two-day warning strike to protest the appointment of Nelson Tenebe as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Edo State Hospital Management Agency (ESHMA).
The doctors claim that Tenebe’s appointment by Governor Monday Okpebholo is “politically motivated” and will have disastrous consequences on healthcare delivery in the state.
The doctors are urging the state government to reverse the appointment and instead approve Dr. Christopher Ehiagwina as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of the Hospital Management Agency, as agreed during their last meeting with the governor on January 22, 2025.
In a letter to the governor, the doctors expressed their frustration, saying, “Unfortunately sir, your directive has not been effected up till now, as though your instructions are being undermined.
This has led to great disenchantment among members after initially being told that you had given the instruction for the name to be announced and the appointment given effect.”
The warning strike has already begun to affect healthcare services across the state, with public hospitals scaling down operations and non-emergency cases being turned away.
Patients and their families are feeling the impact of the disruptions, with many resorting to alternative medicine or seeking treatment at private hospitals.
The doctors have warned that if their demands are not met, they may be forced to take more drastic action, potentially shutting down the healthcare system in the state.
