Resident doctors and consultants in Kwara State General Hospital, Ilorin, under the aegis of the Nigeria Association of Government Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGMDP) on Monday, February 27, began a 48-hour strike over alleged assault on their members by a mobile policeman.
While addressing journalists in Ilorin, the state capital, the Chairman of the state Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Abdulkadir Ahmed, after a congress of the medical doctors, said the strike was meant to call the attention of the community to frequent assault on medical personnel, “and the strike would commence by 8 a.m. on Monday and end on Wednesday by 8 a.m.”
It was gathered that the mobile police officer had brought his wife for treatment in the general hospital and later came back to assault the doctor for examining his wife without his consent.
It was learnt that the man is already in custody of the state Police Command in Ilorin, after his arrest by a detachment of NSCDC in the general hospital.
The NMA chairman explained that the doctor’s. action was not targeted at either the state government or management of the hospital, saying it aimed to send a loud signal to the community and make the community take action to warn their wards.
“Our gathering here today is so painful to all of us. Just less than two months ago, one of our doctors was attacked at the UITH. The matter is still in court after spending lots of resources and time to resolve the matter, it just happened again,” he said.
“On Sunday at by 5 p.m., one of our members was attacked while doing his lawful duty at the obstetrics and gynecology unit of the general hospital in Ilorin.
“It was said that a man brought his wife at about 12:00 noon with a complaint that his wife was ill. Following necessary questioning and examination, treatment was administered and was discharged to go home.
“But the husband to come back later in the day to attack the doctor, claiming that the doctor did not get his consent before carrying out examination on his wife,” he said.
The NMA chairman, who argued that the wife is an adult that could determine to agree to be examined without getting any consent, added that a female chaperon was inside the room with the doctor where the woman was examined.
“The doctor did his lawful duty but he was rewarded with assault. Thank God for the presence of passersby and other staff who rescued the doctor,” he said.
“This is happening with brain-drain situation among medical practitioners in the country, coupled with societal challenges being faced by Nigerians, including the doctors. For how long are we going to continue with this?”
He commended management of the General Hospital in Ilorin and the state government, especially the state governor, among other stakeholders, on the proactive steps taken so far on the matter.
The NMA boss advised members of the public to channel their complaints to appropriate quarters whenever they have issues to address, and should avoid taking laws into their hands.