A coalition of youth groups across the Nadowli-Kaleo constituency scheduled an abrupt emergency press conference Wednesday in protest of a gynecologist who will be transferred out of the region.

The groups say that removing the doctor, Muslim Ibrahim, would impede on the region’s already-tight number of specialists in the female reproductive practice.

“While we acknowledge that transfers are normal administrative procedures for every organisation, we think that dealing with a specialist requires a more careful approach,” the coalition wrote in a statement. “This is a case where we have very few specialists in the region and are supposed to be strategically posted to serve the majority of the people.”

The coalition has raised questions about whether the gynecologist, who currently works at Nadowli Hospital, would be replaced following the transfer.

“We are not against the transfer of Muslim Ibrahim in person but it is that specialty we cannot afford to lose.”

In addition, the hospital’s administration says mounting pressures from staff has limited their abilities to provide services to the public. The administration has also acknowledged that two physician assistants are currently on strike.

The coalition is requesting that the high office of the Regional Director of Health Services, reverse Ibrahim’s transfer “immediately.”

“Anything short of this would be met with the strongest resistance.”

The Nadowli Hospital did not immediately respond to requests for comment.