Ekiti Varsity Teaching Hospital Declares Strike as Hoodlums Attack Doctors

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Activities have been paralysed at the EKITI State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, Ado-Ekiti, as a result of emergency and indefinite strike declared by labour unions at the hospital following an attack by suspected hoodlums who invaded the hospital.

It was reported that some suspected hoodlums on Monday invaded the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti and attacked some doctors.

In addition, 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 (ARDs), Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, has directed its members to embark on 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 ARDs, Dr. Famous Adeyemi.

The letter read: “The above named association writes to notify you of the decision of the emergency congress– held today embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect.

“This followed 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 equipment, and properties and stole a corpse during the attack.

“This attack is happening at the 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 Abayomi, to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice for their actions.

“We also implore the state government to as a matter of urgency attends to our pending demands which bothered on improved 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.”

The association threatened that it would not call off the strike until their demands were attended to by the government.

Confirming the story, the Spokesperson in charge of the University Teaching Hospital, Ms. Rolake Adewumi, said that already, four armed additional policemen has been drafted to ensure security at the hospital.

Adewumi disclosed further that the state police commissioner has launched a manhunt on the perpetrators and vowed to ensure that they are arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

She said: “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 early today.

“While reacting to the incident, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Professor Kayode Olabanji, said that management would 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 police men at the Accident and Emergency as well as two armed  police men at the main gate to strengthen security of the hospital until further notice.

“He pointed out that the Division Police Officer in in charge of Oke-Ila Division, SP. Sesan Falade, has also assured of frequent patrol of the hospital premises.

“Also the EKSUTH boss noted that the management and the DPO had met with the State Chairman of 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 his 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 the 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 incident does not occur again, saying that the management would not tolerate any act of molestation of its staff while discharging their duties.”