Suspected hoodlums on Monday invaded the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, and attacked doctors, and other health officers on duty over the death of a relative at the accident and emergency ward.
It was gathered that the hoodlums who invaded the teaching hospital also vandalised some properties before making away with a corpse suspected to be the father of one of the hoodlums.
It was said that the man who was brought to the Accident and Emergency unit of the hospital for treatment had died in the early hours of Monday and the deceased’s son, who was one of the invaders, had accused the doctors and health workers on duty of negligence and incompetence hence, the death of his father.
The deceased’s son who became furious by the development, joined by some road union workers attacked the doctors and health workers, chased them away and took away the corpse without paying any medical bill.
Following the development, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), EKSUTH branch, directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect, which has paralyzed activities in the hospital.
The strike embarked upon by the Association of Residents Doctors was contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Medical Director, Professor Kayode Olabanji and signed by the President of the Association, Dr Famous Adeyemi.
The letter read: “The above-named association writes to notify you of the decision of the Emergency Congress held today to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect.
“This followed the actions of hoodlums who stormed the Accident and Emergency unit of the Hospital in the early hours of today and assaulted some members of the Association, destroyed several hospital equipment, 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-a-vis being faced with work overload and exhaustion which is a result of poor remuneration, pay disparity and the attending effect of local brain drain.
“We wish to use this opportunity to call on the management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSU(TH) and the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji 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 bother on 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 when they are in their duty posts.
“We call on the state Assembly to enact a law to criminalize assault on health workers in Ekiti State.
“The strike will not be called off until our demands are met.”
The state chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, who addressed the health workers, Mr. Femi Ajoloko, said their lives were in danger due to incessant attacks on them by families of patients.
Ajoloko announced the strike would not be called off until EKSUTH management and the Ekiti State Government guaranteed their security.
Reacting, the EKSUTH Spokesperson, Mrs Rolake Adewumi, who confirmed the incident, said “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Oke- Ila division has commenced a manhunt to apprehend the culprits.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
