In a dramatic turn of events, a resident doctor at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Dr. Orockarrah Orock, managed to escape from his captors. The incident occurred on Saturday night, November 4, 2023, within the hospital premises while Dr. Orock was on call duty in the Anaesthesia Department.
Dr. Celestine Ugwoke, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Enugu State, confirmed the extraordinary escape. He revealed that the kidnappers, after receiving a ransom offer from Dr. Orock's wife, decided to indulge in marijuana and fell into a deep sleep.
Seizing the opportunity, Dr. Orock gradually freed himself from the spot where he was held captive. He crawled away, eventually trekking and running until he reached an area with human activity near the Four Corner Junction of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. In the dead of night, Dr. Orock called his wife, who promptly contacted the UNTH chief security officer. The officer picked him up, leading to his safe return.
Expressing gratitude for the miraculous escape, Dr. Ugwoke highlighted the increasing danger faced by doctors, particularly those working in tertiary health institutions in the state. He emphasized that doctors were now the primary targets of kidnappers, causing widespread fear among the medical community.
To address this alarming trend, Dr. Ugwoke issued a stern warning that if any doctor within UNTH was abducted again, all doctors in the teaching hospital would go on strike. This cautionary measure would extend to other tertiary hospitals in the state as well.
Furthermore, the NMA intends to hold a meeting with the Chief Medical Director of UNTH to demand the implementation of enhanced security protocols within the hospital premises. These measures include adequate perimeter fencing, installation of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), and a dedicated monitoring base.
Dr. Ugwoke also expressed frustration at the lack of response from government officials regarding the security concerns faced by doctors. The association had previously approached the Commissioner for Health and the Commissioner of Police, but their efforts proved futile. Dr. Ugwoke urged the government to take immediate action before doctors are forced to resort to more drastic measures, such as protesting at the Enugu Government House.
The safety of doctors, management staff, employees, and patients within the hospital must be prioritized, ensuring a secure environment for medical professionals to carry out their life-saving duties without fear.
