Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The serene corridors of the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin (KWASUTH), have been replaced by the clamour of placard-carrying doctors and nurses. On Thursday, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-KWASUTH) initiated a 48-hour warning strike following the alleged physical assault on a female doctor by a patient’s relative. The incident, which also involved an attack on a nurse, has reopened a painful debate about the safety of healthcare workers in Nigeria. The doctors, dressed in their distinctive white coats, stood at the hospital’s entrance holding signs with messages such as “Hands that heal should not bleed” and “Stop assaults on healthcare workers,” chanting for justice and security.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) swiftly condemned the act, describing it as “inhumane and unacceptable.” According to a statement, the attack occurred during a tense moment when the female doctor was professionally explaining the hospital charges for a medical procedure to a patient’s relative. A nurse present at the scene was also caught in the assault. While the specific trigger for the violence remains unclear from official releases, the doctors union insists that healthcare workers are under constant threat, and this time, they have drawn a line in the sand.
The President of ARD-KWASUTH, Dr. Abdulfatai Abdulazeez, announced the strike during a news conference at the facility, calling the incident "deeply regrettable" and a threat to the safety of all health professionals. He warned that such actions not only endanger healthcare delivery but also undermine the morale of professionals dedicated to saving lives.Dr. Abdulazeez demanded that hospital management enforce a "zero-tolerance" policy for violence, stressing that doctors are committed to patient care but will no longer tolerate an unsafe working environment.
In a strong show of solidarity, NARD backed the decisions of the local chapter, officially endorsing the 48-hour warning strike and a public demonstration. “The safety, dignity, and welfare of doctors and all healthcare workers are non-negotiable,” the NARD statement read. “Hospitals must remain safe spaces for both patients and staff.”The association’s demands extend beyond immediate justice for the victims. They are calling for the deployment of adequate security personnel—preferably police officers—to sensitive areas of the hospital, full prosecution of the suspect, and compensation for the affected health workers.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of KWASUTH, Dr. Ola Ahmed, has publicly condemned the alleged assault, describing it as “barbaric” and confirming that two suspects have already been handed over to the police.He appealed to the union to reconsider the strike, warning that patients would be the ones to bear the brunt of the consequences. While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the management noted its commitment to ensuring justice and improving the safety protocols within the hospital.
This incident is not an isolated case. It highlights a growing crisis of violence against medical professionals in Nigeria. Experts attribute this trend to systemic challenges, including poor hospital infrastructure, chronic workforce shortages, and the resultant long delays in care delivery, which often heighten the emotions of patients’ families.The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously estimated that between 8 and 38 per cent of health workers globally experience physical violence during their careers.In the Nigerian context, these figures often translate into threats, verbal abuse, and physical attacks similar to the one that triggered the current strike.
The doctors, however, insist that the strike is a necessary rupture from the routine acceptance of workplace danger. Dr. Daniel Amao, Vice President of ARD-KWASUTH, highlighted that past efforts by the Nigerian Medical Association to address assaults had formed committees, but the need for stronger, more visible protection mechanisms persists.Negotiations are ongoing between the union representatives, including Dr. Abdulazeez and Dr. Amao, and the hospital management to de-escalate the situation.
NARD has issued a stark warning against any attempts to intimidate or victimize the doctors at KWASUTH for taking lawful industrial action, noting that such moves could trigger a wider industrial action at the regional or national level.This position reflects the deep vulnerability felt by doctors across the country, many of whom feel abandoned by the system when facing aggression from members of the public.
As the 48-hour clock ticks, the maternity ward and other sections of KWASUTH remain partially operational, but residents are staying away, leaving senior consultants and interns to manage the sudden gap. For now, the striking doctors watch from the gate, waiting for a guarantee that the hands that heal will not be the hands that bleed. The outcome of the negotiations slated for Thursday evening will decide whether the strike escalates into a full, week-long withdrawal of services.
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