By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH) Chapter, has commenced a five-day warning strike over the assault on one of its members, who sustained injuries during the incident.
The assault took place on July 8, at the vicinity of UITH on a female Seniour Registrar at the Department of Paediatrics.
Speaking during a news conference organised on Thursday in Ilorin, the President of ARD-UITH, Dr Ezekiel Oladepo, lamented that the doctors now fear for their lives and safety.
He stated that: “We downtool because we cannot be trying to save lives and also be scared for our own lives”.
According to him, a member in the department of pediatrics was assaulted after attending to a patient.
“Yesterday around 1pm, a Seniour 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 suppose to have been presented long time before. A two year old baby died in the process of being attended to,” he said.
Oladepo 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.
He stated that the father hurriedly came to the hospital and charged against the
same doctor who was now attending to another patient.
“This doctor was thrown against a hard wooden table where she sustain 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 lamented.
The ARD-UITH president further explained that the Management of the hospital got in touch with 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 actions on their member.
He recalled that such attacks on their 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 suppose 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 to others,” he warned.
The ARD-UITH president commended the support of the UITH management, as they pledged to take steps in mitigating any future occurrence.
According to him, the management pledged to install solar cameras across the institution, also placement of postals against any assault of healthcare workers and also 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.
Similarly, Oladepo noted that members of the association are also traumatized by the incident, adding that “we are scared to come to work. We fear for.our lives.
“We are doctors. We are heroes without cape. We know how to overcome these things,” he said.
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.
He said: “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 explained that the UITH has ensured that various channels are in place to communicate any grievances if the needs arise.
He added that the UITH will work assiduously in resolving the issue.
