…. Begin Strike Over Safety Concerns
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
Resident doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, on Monday staged a protest over repeated assaults on healthcare workers by relatives of patients, warning that they can no longer guarantee industrial harmony until urgent safety measures are put in place.
Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FMC Owo branch, marched within the hospital premises carrying placards with messages such as “Say no to violence against healthcare workers” and “The hands that heal should not bleed.”
The protest, according to the association, was aimed at drawing attention to recurring attacks on medical personnel and demanding stronger protection within the hospital environment.
ARD Chairman, Dr. Oluwadamilola Adeola, said the demonstration followed several incidents of violence against doctors, adding that between three and four cases had been recorded this year alone, with others believed to be unreported.
He said the situation had become unsafe for health workers, noting that the protest was also to sensitise the hospital community on the need to end attacks on medical staff.
“Enough is enough. The hands that heal should not bleed,” Adeola said, calling for urgent action to protect doctors and other health professionals.
The association demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of individuals responsible for recent attacks, including a case in which a relative allegedly threatened to kidnap and kill a doctor. They also called for the deployment of armed security personnel at hospital entry points and public apologies from offenders.
Adeola further explained that operations had been affected at the hospital’s Akure annex, where members of the association have reportedly embarked on strike due to insecurity concerns.
“Currently we are on strike at our Akure annex because our people there do not feel safe to work,” he said, adding that hospital gates remain porous and security presence inadequate.
A Senior Registrar, Dr. Dotun Odumade, said hospitals must remain safe spaces for both patients and staff, stressing that grievances should be addressed through proper channels rather than violence.
“There is no room for jungle justice. If a patient or relative is not satisfied, there are channels to report,” he said.
He warned that continued failure by authorities to secure medical personnel could disrupt services further, stating that “an injury to one is a threat to all.”
The association said it would not guarantee uninterrupted services unless urgent steps are taken to address insecurity and protect health workers within the facility.
