By Emmanuel Ani
Activities have been paralysed at the EKITI State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, Ado-Ekiti, as a result of an emergency and indefinite strike declared by labor unions at the hospital following an attack by suspected hoodlums who invaded the medical facility.
Reports reaching DAILY POST have it that some suspected hoodlums on Monday invaded the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, and attacked some doctors.
It was gathered that the hoodlums destroyed some facilities at the hospital and stole a corpse suspected to be the father of one of the hoodlums.
At the moment, the Association of Resident Doctors, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti has directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect.
This 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 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 follows 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 properties and stole a corpse during the attack.
“This attack is happening at a 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 (EKSUTH) 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 border on improving the 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 at 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.”
Confirming the development, the spokesperson in charge of the University Teaching Hospital, Rolake Adewumi, said already, four armed additional policemen have been drafted to ensure security at the hospital.
She disclosed further that the state police commissioner has since launched a manhunt on the perpetrators with a vow to ensure that they are arrested and be made to face the wrath of the law.
According to a statement signed by the hospital’s spokesperson, the management of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado – Ekiti has frowned at the activities of hoodlums who vandalised the Accident and Emergency Complex of the hospital and took away a corpse.
In his reaction to the incident, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Professor Kayode Olabanji, said management will not tolerate any act of violence or mayhem being unleashed on members of staff of the hospital.
According to Him, the management has stationed four armed policemen at the Accident and Emergency as well as two armed policemen at the main gate to strengthen the security of the hospital until further notice.
He pointed out that the Division Police Officer in charge of Oke-Ila Division, SP Sesan Falade, has also assured frequent patrol of the hospital premises.
Also, the EKSUTH boss noted that the management and the DPO had met with the State Chairman of the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria, Mr Sunday Adeola and mandated him to produce the ring leader because the management heard that the person involved is a member of the association.
The CMD explained further that the person who was involved in a recent similar occurrence at the Neo Natal ward will face the wrath of the law as the case is already in court and the culprit is being prosecuted.
Prof Olabanji, therefore, appealed to the members of staff to calm down as steps are in the right direction to ensure that such an incident does not occur again, saying the management will not tolerate any act of molestation of its staff while discharging their duties.
