by Adeola Ogunlade
The Association of Resident Doctors of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu have called on persons in position of authority most especially the authorities at the Force Department (Military, Naval and Police Force) and the entire community within and around Ogun State to please stop assaulting and harassing Health workers.
This was contained in a communique jointly signed by the President of the association, Dr. Popoola Abiodun and the General Secretary, Dr. Osundara Adewale after an emergency meeting of members at OOUTH, Sagamu, Ogun State.
The statement is in response to a recent smack down that occurred in OOUTH on the 30th of November, 2020 between a Military man who lost his child and one of their House Officers.
They said that the House officer was in the theater when the Military man met him at the Red Line. The doctor was beaten by the military man for reasons yet unknown. His bag and phone also got spoilt in the process. The doctor was only saved by whiskers.
They noted that the Soldier unsatisfied, went further to assault a Radiographer in his Department, adding that this is becoming too much for comfort.
The association stressed that we strongly want the Force department across the Ogun State to henceforth call their Men to order.
They said “we call on Police Authority to provide us with a police unit close to the Hospital”.
They said further that our attention was drawn to the recent situation that involved one of our members within the hospital. It is becoming a perpetual unsafe working environment in our hospital. The whole house is very much unpleased with issues that bother on safety of Doctors.
They recalled that there was an assault on one of our doctors in Emergency Room and another attempt at arson at the Accident and Emergency Building early this year”.
According to the association “Our service is to render care to those with one health challenge or the other. However, doing so will require a safe work environment where our trade can be practiced”.
“A safe work environment is also required for our psychosocial wellbeing. A traumatized (emotional, mental and physical trauma) health worker will be unable to give adequate health support as expected thus deterring loved ones from convalescing well and fast”, they said.