The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital has withdrawn its services for 24-hours over alleged assault on Dr Jelili Gbajumo, while on duty.
The incident, according to the President of ARD in the hospital, Dr Jimoh Adekunle, happened on Monday evening at the Neo-Natal ward.
Adekunle told journalists at a press conference on Tuesday, that the development became imperative in view of the incessant attacks on health workers in the hospital by patients or their relatives.
He explained that the victim had advised a patient who was in purdah to adjust her garment but was slapped by a relative of the patient who later fled the scene. He described the incident as an “unnecessary aggression”.
The medical practitioner said the warning strike is subject to review if the culprit is apprehended for prosecution within six hours after the news conference.
“A friend of the husband of a purdah-wearing mother of a neonate in Neonatal unit of this hospital slapped a doctor for telling the mother to adjust her long cloth before entering the neonatal cubicles so that she would not carry infections from outside into the unit.
“She reported the matter to a friend of her husband who went into the ward and slapped the doctor.
“This is not strike because we are ready to work, however, the assault is not acceptable. We are against violence against health workers.
“This strike is subject to review if the man in question is not apprehended for prosecution,” he added.
He urged the management of the hospital to beef up security within and around the hospital.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Oladayo Ogunlaja, said the association would no longer tolerate any attack on doctors in the state.
“The development is unfortunate. The warning strike is to press home our demand to ensure that all doctors are protected. We will go to any length to prosecute the culprit. The affected doctor is emotionally down.
“If the culprit had had a knife, gun or other dangerous weapons on him, he would have freely used it and this could have cost the doctor is life. Value must be placed on human life, while we are trying to save lives our lives are in danger.
“The doctors have nothing against the management of this hospital, all we are asking for is adequate protection of doctors operating within this facility,” Dr Ogunlaja said.
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