The Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Chapter (ARD-UITH) has commenced five days warning strike over assault on a member which led to injuries.
The assault took place on July 8, on a female Seniour Registrar at the Department of Paediatrics of UITH.
Speaking during a news conference on Thursday in Ilorin, the President of ARD-UITH, Dr Ezekiel Oladepo, lamented that the doctors now fear for their lives and general safety.
“We down tools because we cannot be trying to save lives and also be scared for our own lives,” Oladepo said.
According to him, a member in the Department of Pediatrics was assaulted after attending to a patient.
“Yesterday around 1.00pm, a Senior Registrar was assaulted after attending to a patient who eventually died in the process because of the premorbid condition of the patient.
“The patient came in very bad on referral, which was supposed to have been presented long time before. A two – year old baby died in the process of being attended to,” Oladepo said.
He explained that the families of the deceased child were notified concerning the demise of the patient, adding that the father of the child who was not present at the time was also notified by the mother.
The president stated that the father hurriedly came to the hospital and and physically attacked the
same doctor who was now attending to another patient.
“This doctor was thrown against a hard wooden table where she sustained injury on her back.
“After pushing her, the same person landed on the doctor to beat her. A Seniour Consultant who was present during the incident was able to hold the assailant.
“The Seniour Consultant was also verbally insulted in the process of saving the doctor from further assault,” he said.
The ARD-UITH president further explained that the Management of the hospital got in touch with the Police, who later arrested the suspected culprit.
He explained that the warning strike is part of the protocol of the association after an emergency congress to address the situation and show grievance over such dastardly action on a member.
He recalled that similar attacks on members had occured before and there are cases still in court.
Oladepo pointed out that the strike action is a peaceful protest which will serve as a deterrent to the public against assaulting doctors.
He however observed that while the doctors empathize with the family members over loss of loved ones, there are ways to mourn and not to take frustrations and anger on healthcare workers.
“You cannot always put blame on doctors. We are doing our work according to what we are supposed to do.
“We have to be safe within our work place. An assault on any member is an assault on all. A single act by one person is causing a ripple effect on others,” Oladepo warned.
The ARD-UITH president commended the support of the UITH management, as it pledged to take steps in preventing any future occurrence.
According to him, the management pledged to install solar cameras across the institution and a viable security network at each service point.
Oladepo lamented that the assaulted doctor is physically and mentally traumatized, adding that the management also pledged to care for her.
Reacting to the development, the Head of Corporate Affairs Department of the UITH, Mr Abiodun Fagbemi explained that the hospital is aware of the development.
“We value our doctors ditto the other health workers as well as the patients. We have zero tolerance for assault on any health workers,” Fagbemi said.
