The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute the suspect who allegedly stabbed a medical laboratory scientist at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, condemned the reported attack on Lawal Olasunkanmi, describing it as “barbaric and unacceptable”.
“No grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties,” he said, and promised the ministry would follow the case to ensure that the alleged assailant was brought to justice.
He added that the incident underscored the need to implement measures the ministry directed on August 5 to improve the protection of health workers in federal tertiary hospitals.
The measures include stronger security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident-reporting systems, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling procedures.
“These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,” Salako said.
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He also appealed to health workers who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to resume work in the interest of patients and the public.
Salako urged the workers to allow security agencies to conduct their investigation, while calling on the hospital management to ensure that Olasunkanmi received appropriate medical care and support.
He further directed the management to strengthen security arrangements in line with Federal Government directives.
The minister extended the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, noting that the loss of a loved one deserved compassion and appropriate attention.
He urged anyone dissatisfied with treatment at the hospital to use its formal complaints mechanism to ensure that concerns were fairly investigated and addressed without violence.
Salako reiterated that protecting health workers was essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery.
He said hospitals must remain safe environments where medical personnel could perform their duties without fear of violence and patients and their families could seek treatment with confidence.
Meanwhile, workers in the hospital have announced a 72-hour warning strike to protest the ugly incident.
The Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Abiodun Famuyiwa said the strike involved hospital workers, excluding doctors, following the incident on Sunday night.
He identified the victim as Olasunkanmi Lawal, a medical laboratory scientist who was allegedly stabbed twice, including on the head, with an object while on duty.
“Mr Olasunkanmi Lawal, a medical laboratory scientist was stabbed in two places, including the head, with an object and he is now receiving treatment at the hospital,” Famuyiwa said.
He added that the incident had been reported to the police and referred to the appropriate authorities for further action.
The unions, operating under the Joint Action Committee, announced the industrial action in a position letter dated October 12 and addressed to the hospital’s Medical Director.
The letter stated that the strike began at 11 a.m. on Monday and was scheduled to end at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
The letter was endorsed by representatives of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institutions, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
The unions condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the safety and dignity of healthcare professionals.
They said violence against workers performing their official duties should not be treated lightly, adding that dissatisfaction with hospital services could not justify physical attacks.
The unions also described the incident as an attack on the entire workforce, stressing that workers could not remain silent while their colleagues’ safety was threatened.
NAN
