The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter has called on the security agencies, most especially, the commissioner of police to beef up security in University of Ilorin Teaching hospital UITH and ensure that the prosecution of the ongoing case of assault on medical doctor in the hospital is diligently done.
NMA-Kwara Chairman Dr Ola Ahmed, stated this in Ilorin, Kwara state Capital during a news briefing on the incessant assault on doctors in Kwara State.
Kwara NMA boss who lamented that attack on its members have been recorded across different hospitals in the state said ” Several reports, engagement and letters have been written to our employers especially the management of University of Ilorin Teaching hospital (UITH) and Kwara State Government but we have not seen remarkably improvement”
” The index case of assault on our members at accident and Emergency unit of the UITH will be used as example of how we will not tolerate any assault on our members again. The case is already in court and it will be followed to a logical conclusion to ensure justice is done to our members and to serve as deterrent to others” he added.
Dr Ola Ahmed called on members of the public to also, irrespective of the challenges they face or how dissatisfied they are in the course of receiving care in their hospitals, to empathise with Doctors and channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters by following due process.
“While the effort of UITH management is commended on the actions taken so far on the index case, I hereby call on all our employers, most especially the management of UITH and Kwara State Government to as a matter of urgency, improve on the working environment to help us serve the people better. Provision of CCTV, employment of more Doctors and other health workers as well as improved salary and other welfare packages to discourage brain drain.” He said
“Just recently, a Doctor was attacked and killed by a patient’s relative in Delta State while rendering services. We will not wait until that happens to us here.” He added
” I sympathise with my colleagues, all members of Association of Resident Doctors in UITH and all Doctors in UITH on the incident and promise that NMA Kwara will do everything humanly possible to avoid a recurrence and the index case will be followed to a logical conclusion to ensure justice is served” he said
He also called on traditional rulers, elders in the state and the political class to help educate and enlightened the populace on the need to exercise restrain and decorum when in the hospital environs
“To the general populace, note that the action of one will have serious impact on the others. Just like we have now, the strike embarked by ARD is affecting many but it was as result of the action of a few. NMA Kwara will not hesitate to take drastic actions that will impact on all if any of our members is assaulted again
Efforts is in place to resume services by the striking Doctors and for normalcy to return to UITH following this despicable act and we hope this will be the last of such incident.” He said
