Health
Attack: UITH-ARD commences five-day strike over assault
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), on Friday commenced five days total strike over assault on one of its members.
Dr Mubaraq Ijaiya, the President of ARD-UITH chapter, confirmed this in Ilorin while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of a protest organised by the association on the recent attack on their member by relatives of a patient.
According to him, the members also demand for presence of armed security personnel at all emergency points within the hospital for the safety of their lives.
He explained that a resident doctor on emergency duty was assaulted by patient relatives along with other members of staff while resuscitating their patients.
The ARD-UITH president lamented that this is one of several episodes of physical assault on their members in 2022, with no culprit prosecuted to a logical conclusion and several other assaults that have occurred on healthcare workers in the last few months within the hospital.
He stated further that the index patient was a known patient in the facility being managed for a terminal illness.
“He was rushed to the Emergency Unit of the hospital on the Dec. 27 at about 7 a.m. He was promptly attended to and admitted for emergency management by the medical team on emergency duty.
“The necessary management plan was prescribed including some required investigations and his primary managing team was notified through a written consult and phone call,” he said.
Ijaiya explained further that contrary to misinformation, the patient was alive and was just stabilised by the same doctor when the relatives assaulted him.
He added that unfortunately despite the best efforts of the managing team, the patient passed away in the early hours of Dec. 28, while also condoling the family on the loss.
He recommended the immediate provision of posters and banners all round the hospital to discourage any form of assault on healthcare workers.
“Security agents should ensure proper prosecution of the culprits to prevent further assault,” he said.
The members carried placards with inscription such as: “#ARD says No to Violence,” “#Healthwokers lives matter,” and “#Protect us, as we protect you!”
Reacting to the development, Mrs Elizabeth Ajiboye, the Head Corporate Affairs Unit of UITH, appreciated the peaceful resolution of the problem but frowns at avoidable frictions between relatives and healthcare givers.
She stated that the management would do all that is necessary, including legal redress, to solve the problem.
According to her, such incidence of attacks in the past led to serious injuries on healthcare givers and that the hospital management would no longer tolerate any of such harassment and assault from patients’ relatives and friends.
“Patients and their relatives are strongly advised to always channel their grievances through the SERVICOM Unit of the hospital rather than resort to verbal abuse and violence in seeking redress to observed lapses or ethical breaches on the part of members of staff of the hospital.
“We once again reiterate our commitment to the delivery of quality healthcare services to our patients,while we covet their unalloyed cooperation,” said spokesperson.
Ajiboye also disclosed that management has released the corpse of Alhaji Solihu, whose three relatives were alleged to have assaulted a doctor of the hospital.
She stated that the management reviewed the matter and magnanimously decided to release the corpse to the relatives for burial.
“However, further investigations and possible prosecution of the arrested persons linked with the doctor’s assault would continue to its logical end,” she assured.
The Zamfara Commissioner for Health, Dr Aisha Anka has confirmed the outbreak of unknown illness in the state which recorded four deaths and 177 cases so far.
Anka confirmed this in a statement issued in Gusau on Friday by the Information Officer of the ministry, Malam Bello Ibrahim.
According to the commissioner, the disease is characterized by abdominal distension, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, enlarge liver, enlarge spleen, fever and general body weakness.
“The illness is found in Maradun, Shinkafi and Gusau local government areas in the state.
“Children are mostly affected and the cases are associated with water consumptions.
“So far, four deaths have been recorded, 177 cases were detected,” Anka said.
“The incident has been reported to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), partners and all other relevant stakeholders.
“The ministry of health is currently on the emergency response phase to identify the illnesses and causes.
“Various biological human and animal samples, soil samples, water samples, agricultural and foodstuff samples have been taken to Lagos and Abuja laboratories for analysis.
“The ministry will continue to update the general public and all relevant stakeholders and partners on any update about the outbreak,”she added. (
Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to compel intending couples to undergo HIV, hepatitis and sickle cell anaemia screening before marriage.
The passage followed deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during plenary session,
presided over by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore on Monday in Kano.
After deliberations, the lawmakers approved the 3rd reading of the bill, read by the Deputy Clerk, Alhaji Nasiru Magaji.
Shortly after passage of the bill, the Majority Leader of the house, Lawan Hussein (NNPP-Dala), stated that “any person
intending to marry shall first submit self for medical examinations.”
He said the bill was considered and passed after the 3rd reading, following various legislative processes.
The leader further said that the bill was passed because the state had been battling with different health issues, including
HIV because people go into marriages without medical screening.
He said that the bill, if signed into law, would save many lives and curb the spread of life-threatening diseases.
“The bill will safeguard the health of citizens by institutionalising pre-marital testing to check the spread of diseases
like hepatitis, HIV and sickle cell anaemia,” he added.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), says it plans to commence vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) on May 27 in Kogi.
The state’s Team Lead of WHO, Dr Muktar Toyosi, said this when he led his team on an advocacy visit to the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday in Lokoja.
Toyosi said that the vaccination was meant for girl child of between the age nine and 14.
He said the ongoing sensitisation was to keep the people informed, and educate them on the vaccination of their children to protect them against cervical cancer in future.
”Kogi falls within the second phase of the programme. We are soliciting for the cooperation of the media in educating the people of the state on the HPV vaccination.
“There need for girls child across the state to take the vaccination to safeguard their future.
“Although the vaccine was initially scarce and difficult to get, the good news now is that it has been made available by the government,” Toyosi said.
Also speaking, the State Technical Assistant for WHO, Dr Ahmed Attah, said that the HPV mostly affect women, adding that the vaccination remained a preventive measure against the disease.
Attah, a former state Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and a former Chief Medical Director (CMD), Kogi Specialist Hospital (KSSH) Lokoja, urged parents and guardians to avail their children of the vaccination to justify government’s investment.
In his response, the Kogi NUJ Chairman, Mr Seidu Ademu, described the health sector as very critical, stressing that the vaccination was a right step in the right direction.
Ademu promised a robust partnership with WHO to enable the team to achieve its set goals.
He stressed the need to inform, educate and sensitise the general public on the need to embrace the vaccine by ensuring that girls within the age range were vaccinated.
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