The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has threatened to embark on nationwide industrial action over what it described as rising assaults, harassment and intimidation of doctors, nurses and other health workers across the country.
NARD said hospitals were becoming increasingly unsafe, warning that it could no longer guarantee industrial peace unless the Federal Government, security agencies and other relevant authorities take urgent steps to protect healthcare workers and prosecute those responsible for attacks.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, the association said no fewer than 17 tertiary health institutions had recorded attacks on healthcare workers within the past year. It said more than 90 per cent of the victims were resident doctors who suffered physical injuries, emotional trauma, destruction of personal belongings and lasting psychological distress.
The warning followed outrage over the recent operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom State, where Prof. Eyo Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Deputy Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee, was arrested. The Nigerian Medical Association alleged that EFCC operatives stormed the hospital on May 12 in an operation that led to the arrest and assault of doctors and other health personnel.
The incident triggered an indefinite strike by doctors in Akwa Ibom and prompted threats of a N1 billion lawsuit against the anti-graft agency over the alleged assault.
NARD said affected hospitals included the University College Hospital, Ibadan; Federal Medical Centre, Owo; Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu; Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara; University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; National Hospital, Abuja; and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, among others.
The association lamented what it called a culture of impunity, saying that while some attackers had reportedly been arrested or arraigned, none had been decisively punished to deter others.
“What started as verbal abuse has now degenerated into brutal physical assaults, destruction of valuables, invasion of call rooms, intimidation with weapons and coordinated attacks on health workers on duty,” NARD said.
NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, described the trend as alarming, saying doctors were increasingly becoming targets of public anger despite working under difficult conditions to save lives.
He called for urgent security measures in hospitals and legislation criminalising attacks on healthcare workers.
“This is a warning notice and ultimatum,” Ibrahim said. “If nothing happens, we will call our members again in the next few weeks to assess the situation and take further decisions.”
The association warned that failure to act could trigger another major disruption in Nigeria’s already strained health sector.
