EKSUTH Doctors Down Tools After Hoodlums Attack Hospital, Steal Corpse

The Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, has been thrown into chaos as doctors have embarked on an indefinite strike following a violent invasion by some hoodlums on Monday.

The hoodlums, who were reportedly looking for the body of their deceased father, assaulted some doctors, damaged some facilities, and made away with the corpse.

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), EKSUTH, announced the strike action in a letter to the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Kayode Olabanji, signed by its President, Dr Famous Adeyemi.

The letter stated that the strike was a result of the failure of the management and the state government to address the issues of security, welfare, and remuneration of the doctors.

The letter also called for the arrest and prosecution of the hoodlums, the implementation of the pending demands of the doctors, and the enactment of a law to criminalise assault on health workers in Ekiti State. The letter added that the strike would not be suspended until the demands were met.

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

“This follows 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 properties and stole a corpse during the attack.

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

“We also implore the state government to, as a matter of urgency, attend to our pending demands, which border on improving the 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 spokesperson of the hospital, Rolake Adewumi, confirmed the incident and said that the management had beefed up security at the hospital by deploying four armed policemen at the Accident and Emergency unit and two at the main gate. She also said that the state police commissioner had ordered a manhunt for the hoodlums and vowed to bring them to justice.

The CMD, Professor Olabanji, condemned the attack and said that the management would not tolerate any violence or disorder at the hospital. He also said that the management and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Oke-Ila Division, SP Sesan Falade, had met with the State Chairman of the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr Sunday Adeola, and instructed him to produce the ring leader of the hoodlums.