Assault: FCTA vows to protect health workers

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr (Mrs.) Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has assured health workers in all public hospitals in the territory of adequate security following recent physical assault on a female medical doctor by aggrieved relatives of a patient.

The minister described such assault as an act of lawlessness  and noted that such attitude  is not acceptable in all public health institutions in the nation’s capital.

Dr Aliyu made the commitment when members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abuja branch protested the mob attack on a female medical doctor at the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja by relatives of a patient who passed on while under the care of the hospital.

He said: “We will provide first grade security for all health workers in the territory because your service is for humanity. We appreciate your patience, we appreciate your understanding and the fact that you didn’t take the law into your own hands.

“Violence against medical or health workers: male or female, is not acceptable in the FCT or anywhere in Nigeria. This may not be an issue only for the FCT; you could be posted anywhere as a practising professional.

“It is an attitude or  culture of lawlessness, it is unheard of. But I want to appeal to you all that we feel your pains, we understand your fears and you will be protected. I want you to know that you will receive first grade protection and security you need in every hospital in the FCT.”

Earlier, the NMA chairman,  Dr Philip Ekpe, expressed dismay over the manner health workers are being assaulted in public hospitals across the territory while carrying out their lawful duties.

He said the association had condemned in strong terms the recurrent and frequent abuse, assault, molestation and threat to the lives of doctors and other health workers in FCT hospitals by patients and relatives.

According to him, “a handful of patients’ relatives have developed a penchant for taking the law into their own hands whenever they are dissatisfied with outcomes.”