Nathaniel Gbaoron, Lafia
Medical activities at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi , Nasarawa State were Tuesday disrupted as the residence medical Doctors at the hospital shundown services at the centre in protest against alleged assault, torture and humiliation of a medical Doctor working at the FMC.
The situation which created panic and apprehension for over the incident caused the patients receiving treatments at the Center, Keffi setbacks as a result of withdrawal of services for 48 hours by the residence doctors.
The doctors who claimed that an army personnel who came to visit his patient assaulted, beat and humiliated one of their colleagues due to misunderstanding that ensured between the military personnel and the medical Doctor on duty.
Chairman of the residence Doctors Association in the hospital, Dr. Dominic Akolo Azagaku alleged in an interview with newsmen in Keffi that the army officers’ act was in violation of the right of their colleagues adding that the act was uncalled for.
The association Chairman called on the authorities of the Nigeria Army to investigate and bring the personnel to justice.
“We as union, will not accept what happened within this hospital where a military officer will entered here and assault, humiliate a doctor despite the harsh working environment that we are going through. The situation led to our calling for an emergency congress meeting.
In our meeting, it was agreed that we withdraw our services for the next 48 hours at the same time demanded for a written apology from the army officer involved as well be kept abreast with the management of this hospital decision regarding our security and creating a peaceful working environment for us” Dr. Azagaku stated.
On the fate of the patients in the centre following the withdrawal of their services, association Chairman said the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Yahaya Baba Adamu has apologised and appealed to them to reconsider their decision to embark on strike and return to work.
“We the executives of this association can not accept the apology for now because it was a congress resolution, we are going to meet with the congress first and get back to the management”.
When contacted, the Managing Director of the Center, Dr. Yahaya Baba Adamu said the management of the hospital was doing their best to resolve the internal issue as well as getting the contacts of the army officer involved in the issue to enable them take a decision.
“I personally addressed the affected doctor’s association and I tendered apology to them urging them to consider the conditions of patients and return back to duty.” The CMD declared.