Doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, and its Akure Annex have commenced a 72-hour warning strike following the alleged assault of a medical doctor by a patient’s relative while on duty.
The industrial action was declared by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FMC Owo, after an incident that occurred on Sunday within the hospital premises.
According to reports, the doctor was attending to patients when he was allegedly attacked by the wife of a patient. The situation reportedly escalated when a group of individuals later arrived at the hospital searching for the doctor, prompting hospital staff to move him to a secure location for his safety.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the President of the association, Dr. Adeola Oluwadamilola, and the Secretary-General, Dr. Dare Aderemi, the resident doctors condemned the attack, describing it as part of a disturbing trend of violence against healthcare workers.
The association alleged that the doctor was physically assaulted by both a patient and the patient’s daughter. It further noted that the latest incident marks the second reported attack on a doctor at the institution since the beginning of the year.
The doctors expressed concern over the increasing threats faced by medical personnel while carrying out their professional duties, warning that such incidents could negatively affect healthcare delivery if not adequately addressed.
As part of its demands, the association called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the assault. It also requested the deployment of armed security personnel to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, and its annexes to improve the safety of healthcare workers and patients.
Additionally, the doctors demanded that the alleged assailant publish a public apology in a national newspaper and provide adequate compensation to the affected doctor.
