Cross River State Government yesterday asked the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Cross River Branch, to stop protesting over the recent kidnap of its member, Dr. Marcus Inyama. The state Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, said the association’s regular demonstration and pronouncement would not help government get their member off the hook of the kidnappers.

 

He stated this at the State Government House when the NMA staged a protest demanding the release of Inyama. While assuring the association of government’s commitment in ensuring that Inyama gets his freedom soon, Esu said: “Government has been on the matter

“The truth is that government is more concerned than you yourselves. Today is the medical doctor, tomorrow, it may be a very top politician, it may be another person, everybody is equally important. “I want to assure you that this your pronouncement and demonstration would not help us.”

 

He, however, urged them to be calm, saying: “Let it not look as if government has not done much for a particular group. I did tell you how important we consider your profession because you can determine life and death by your presence or action. Nobody knew this kind of thing would happen but however, it has happened and we promptly went into action. We are monitoring the movement from minute to minute of your member, where he is, who is there and so on.”

 

Chairman of NMA, Cross River Branch, Dr. Agam Ayuk, said for the past four years, doctors had been major targets for kidnappers in the state. In another development, through the five years’ intervention programme of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other partners, the maternal mortality rate in Cross River State has reduced by 66 per cent.

 

Programme Manager of Pathfinder International in the state, Dr. Oluwayemisi Femi-Pius, stated this yesterday in Calabar at the presentation ceremony of findings on the state of maternal, newborn health and family planning following the implementation of “Saving Mothers Giving Life Initiative” in the state by Pathfinder International, the USAID implementation partner.

 

In her keynote address, wife of the state governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, represented by wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Omotunde Esu, said: “Our nation, Nigeria, can only truly prosper if the health of women and of course children is made top priority at all levels of government.