- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ekiti State Chapter has condemn in totality the frequent attack and assault been experienced in the hands of the families of some patients at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti.
The body observed that the situation is becoming worrisome and that it has greatly been affecting the productivity of their members while on duty in the hospital.
to a statement made available to TopNews in Ado-Ekiti by NMA chairman; Dr Babatunde Rosiji and the secretary; Dr Moses Dada said “the trend of violence against health workers in the state is becoming increasingly worrisome. If this barbaric trend is left unchecked, it can wreck havock to the good work the Governor of Ekiti state is doing towards attracting the best of hands to the health sector of Ekiti state.
Within the space of one month, there have been at least three troubling episodes involving Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital”.
It added that, “First was the case involving some commercial drivers who in addition to assaulting health workers proceeded to destroy government properties and forcefully carted away the corpse of one of their relatives on 15th January 2024.
While still attempting to resolve this, there was another incident which involved DSS operatives and later degenerated to the use of force and firing of live bullets within the hospital premises on 11th February, 2024.
The NMA further observed that, “following assurances and reassurances from the Management of EKSUTH, the State Command of the DSS and the Ekiti State Government, we were able to reluctantly pacify our members believing that not only will justice be done but such incidents will not be heard of in our dear state again.
It is however worrisome that roughly 72 hours after the second incident, there was another incident of physical abuse of a doctor in the accidents and emergency unit of EKSUTH by yet another DSS personnel who even threatened to bring in a troop of DSS operatives to unleash mayhem on the hospital community.
While calling on the government and other stakeholders in the state to take a drastic measures to put an end to such incident, the body maintained that, “it is very worrisome that while we were struggling with the condemnable act of health workers assault by miscreants in the society, the narrative seems to be changing to now involve security operatives who under normal conditions should be saddled with the responsibility of protecting the citizens and keeping the hospital environment safe as a sanctuary.
“We are using this medium to call on the Ekiti State, Commissioner of Police, the State Director of DSS and heads of other security outfits in the State to do all within their power to protect our members from this unwarranted aggression and bring the full weight of the law on the perpetrators of this dastardly act irrespective of their status.
NMA lauded the efforts of the government for their timely interventions so far. “We commend the Ekiti State Government under the able leadership of our amiable Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji for the steps taken so far to nip the first two cases in the bud and we equally call on him to leave no stone unturned in putting an end to this barbaric act of assault on health workers in our dear State.
“We equally call on the Ekiti State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeyinka Aribasoye to as a matter of urgency speed up the process of bringing up a law that will criminalize assault on health workers in Ekiti. Evil will continue when it goes unchecked.
While announcing their withdrawal of services from the hospital, the body disclosed that, “we use this opportunity to appeal to all doctors and other health workers within the State to remain calm as we stand in solidarity with the EKSUTH Community.
“Our members in ARD EKSUTH have proceeded on an indefinite withdrawal of services until such a time that safety within the hospital premises can be fully guaranteed. The NMA Ekiti will keep engaging all critical stakeholders towards a speedy resolution of the current crisis. Our Association is watching keenly as the investigation into this matter unfolds”, the statement concluded.
