From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Some people suspected to be hoodlums, yesterday morning, invaded the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, over the death of a relative.
The hoodlums were reported to have attacked some doctors and health workers at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the facility, vandalised some property, and made away with a corpse.
Following the development, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), EKSUTH branch, directed its members to embark on indefinite strike with immediate effect, which has paralysed activities in the hospital.
Sources said a man who was brought to the Accident and Emergency unit of the hospital for treatment had died in the early hours of yesterday, 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 over the development, was joined by some road union workers and they attacked the doctors and health workers, chased them away and took the corpse without paying any medical bill.
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 the 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 as 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 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 when they are in their duty post. We call on the state assembly to enact a law to criminalise assault on health workers in Ekiti State. The strike will not be called off until our demands are met.”
The state chairman, 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 that the strike would not be called off until EKSUTH management and 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 and his men have commenced a manhunt to apprehend the culprits.”