By Ayomide Otitoju
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 within the hospital premises.
The industrial action was declared by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FMC Owo, after the incident, which reportedly occurred on Sunday while the doctor was attending to patients.
According to the association, the wife of a patient allegedly assaulted the doctor on duty, while other individuals later stormed the facility in search of the medical practitioner, forcing hospital staff to move him to a secure location.
In a communiqué jointly signed by the ARD President, Dr. Adeola Oluwadamilola, and Secretary-General, Dr. Dare Aderemi, the association condemned the attack, describing it as part of a growing trend of violence against healthcare workers.
The doctors alleged that the victim was physically assaulted by a patient and the patient’s daughter, noting that it was the second reported attack on a doctor at the institution this year.
The association expressed concern over the safety of healthcare personnel and called for urgent measures to protect medical workers in the discharge of their duties.
Among its demands are the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved in the alleged assault, the deployment of armed security personnel to FMC Owo and its annexes, a public apology from the alleged assailant in a national newspaper, and adequate compensation for the affected doctor.
The resident doctors warned that failure to address their concerns could lead to further actions, stressing the need for a safe and secure working environment for healthcare professionals.
