The Association of Resident Doctors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi has initiated a five-day warning strike in response to the ongoing assaults on its members. The strike commenced on Wednesday, resulting in the suspension of all medical services at the institution. This decision was announced in a press statement signed by the President, Dr. Ndukwe Chinwe, and the General Secretary, Dr. Egbue Obiora, following an emergency general meeting attended by over 100 members.
The association expressed deep concern over the frequent assaults and attacks by relatives of patients at the hospital, which have largely gone unaddressed. They highlighted a particularly alarming incident in which one of their members was brutally assaulted, humiliated, and tortured for over two hours by the relatives of a deceased patient. This attack only ended with the late intervention of hospital security and management. The association stated that the decision to strike was prompted by these physical assaults and the near-death experiences endured by its members at the hands of patients’ families. They emphasized that these attacks have persisted for an extended period, forcing doctors to endure humiliation without recourse, ultimately leading to the warning strike aimed at drawing attention to their plight.
In their communiqué, the association detailed the events leading to the strike. During an emergency general meeting on January 24, 2023, they discussed an incident that occurred on January 22, when an internal medicine resident attempted to assist in resuscitating a patient in the male surgical ward. Despite the doctor’s efforts, the patient died, resulting in a brutal assault by the deceased patient’s relatives. The doctor suffered over two hours of torture and humiliation before hospital security intervened. While the association acknowledged the management’s efforts to condemn the incident and ensure the assailants were arrested, they insisted that more decisive actions are necessary to deter future assaults on doctors.
The Congress resolved to implement a total shutdown of clinical and emergency services for five days, starting at 6 a.m. on January 25, 2023, and concluding at 8 a.m. on January 30, 2023. They demanded that management ensure the prosecution of those involved in the assault to serve as a deterrent. Additionally, they called for a complete overhaul of the hospital’s security measures, suggesting the recruitment of capable unarmed local vigilante or civil defense operatives. The association also urged management to recruit more resident doctors and medical officers to enhance manpower and improve service delivery. Furthermore, they recommended strict enforcement of visiting hours, restricting patient relatives from entering wards outside designated times.
The resolutions will be reviewed at the next Ordinary General Meeting in one month, at which point the Congress will determine the next steps. They urged management to address their concerns promptly within the month to prevent any further industrial action.
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