By Simdi Gloria:-
The association of Resident Doctors of the Federal Medical centre, Idi-Aba, Ogun State has announced that its doctors will be going on strike following the assault on a doctor by a patient.
The President of the association, Mr. Adekunle Jimoh complained of frequent assaults on health workers by patients. He said this was becoming a menace as health workers were targeted and even beaten outside the hospital.
“We, the doctors say this is unacceptable and we are not going to tolerate such acts any longer.
A member of ours was assaulted on Monday around 6.30 p.m by a patient’s relative in the cause of the doctor trying to take care of a patient.
“In the cause of that, we have decided to down tool for at least 24 hours, which started today to press home our demand.
“We should have said we should go on indefinite strike but we also want to put other patients who are not involved into consideration,” he said.
Jimoh noted that the strike aims at ending the menace of violence against health workers, saying it is unacceptable.
Jimoh narrated what transpired between the patients and a doctor said, a female patient who was wearing a flowing long Hijab entered the neonatal ward.
Dr.Jelili Gbajumo, the doctor on duty corrected her as she is not meant to wear such a gown into the neonatal ward, it could sweep infections to the ward.
The patient got angry and went to call her husband, who came with another relative, accosted the doctor and slapped him.
“The relative who slapped the doctor escaped before other doctors got there.
“No matter the level of provocation from the doctors, it does not give any patient the right to slap a doctor,” Dr Jimoh said.
The chairman, Nigerian Medical association Ogun Chapter Dr.Oladayo Ogunlaja said this was not the first time doctors were physically assaulted by patients, adding that it must be stopped.
Ogunlaja said the 24 hr strike was to let the public know that such acts won’t be tolerated anymore.
If the assault on the doctor had resulted in his death or if the patient was with a knife or gun, what are we going to tell the family of the doctor who is trying to save a life.
“We are trying to save lives but the lives of doctors are in danger, all our members working in facilities must be protected.
“We have informed the police and we will go to any length for the person to be apprehended, which will serve as a deterrent to forestall occurrence”, he said.
Ogunlaja further notes that the strike will be reviewed if the man was not apprehended in six hours.
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