- Declares indefinite strike with immediate effect
The Association of Resident Doctors at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) has declared an indefinite strike action over attacks on members by suspected hoodlums at the hospital.
The Herald reports that this comes after some hoodlums stormed the hospital on Monday following the death of a patient brought to the facility on Sunday.
It was observed that the patient believed to be battling for life was admitted to the emergency unit of the hospital and gave up the ghost despite the efforts of the health personnel on duty to save his life.
The development was said to have angered the relatives, who mobilised hoodlums to attack the doctors and destroy property at the facility over what they termed alleged negligence.
The hoodlums also forcefully made away with the corpse from the hospital without recourse to the expected procedures or financial responsibilities.
Operatives of the State Police Command have been drafted to the hospital to prevent further breakdowns of law and order.
However, the resident doctors, after an emergency congress on Tuesday, said their safety could no longer be guaranteed, hence the decision to downgrade tools pending when the situation would be addressed.
The president of the association, Dr Famous Adeyemi in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune called on the hospital management and the governor, Biodun Oyebanji to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the attackers to serve as a deterrent to others.
He said, “ This is following the actions of hoodlums who stormed the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Hospital in the early hours of today (Monday) and assaulted some members of the Association, destroyed several hospital equipment and properties, and stole a corpse during the attack.
“ This attack is happening at a time when our members are showing understanding with the state government on the non-implementation of our demands on improved welfare vis-à-vis being faced with work overload and exhaustion, which is a result of poor remuneration, pay disparity, and the attendant effect of local brain drain.
“ We wish to use this avenue to call on the management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Abayomi, to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice for their actions.
“ We also implore the state government to, as a matter of urgency, attend to our pending demands, which concern the improved welfare of our members.
“ We implore the management and the government to provide a lasting solution to these incessant assaults on our members and ensure safety while at their duty posts. We call on the Ekiti State House of Assembly to enact a law criminalising assaults on health workers in Ekiti State. The strike will not be called off until our demands are met.”
In his reaction, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Professor Kayode Olabanji, who condemned the invasion of the facility by the hoodlums, said the institution would do everything possible to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.
According to a statement by the Head, Corporate Affairs Department, Rolake Adewumi, “The management has stationed four armed policemen at the Accident and Emergency Unit as well as two armed policemen at the main gate to strengthen the security of the hospital until further notice.
“Also, the EKSUTH boss noted that the management and the DPO had met with the State Chairman of the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria, Mr Sunday Adeola, and mandated him to produce the ring leader because the management heard that the person involved is a member of the association.
“Prof. Olabanji, therefore, appealed to the members of staff to calm down as steps are being taken to ensure that such incidents do not occur again, saying the management will not tolerate any act of molestation of its staff while discharging their duties.”