UITH doctors down tools over assault on member

Medical doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, have suspended their services over alleged physical assault by a woman who lost her child on one of their members in the health facility.

Following the loss, the mother lost control and attacked the doctor over the incident.

During a visit to the health facility on Thursday, several out-patients who reported as early as 7.00a.m to see medical doctors at various departments for medical attention waited endlessly for hours without being attended to.

DAILY POST reports that the incident occurred on Wednesday at the Pediatrics department of the teaching hospital where the unidentified doctor was beaten.

While the assaulted doctor is in critical condition, the woman has been arrested and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Some members of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, in a peaceful protest round the departments in the facility on Thursday, condemned the incident and warned members of the public in need of healthcare services to stop the persistent assault on healthcare givers.

Speaking to disappointed patients, spokesman of the protesters, Dr E.Oladepo, said the Wednesday incident was the third that will happen in the hospital and called for restraint.

He wondered whether doctors should be treated in such in-human act by people who genuinely want quality healthcare even as most doctors have left the country for greener pasture.

A source who confided in DAILY POST informed that the doctors’ action to demand justice for the assaulted doctor may last five days with hope that they will be back to work on Monday.

While most patients went home disappointed, a source hinted that consultants in the hospital may come to the rescue of emergency patients in need of urgent medical attention.