By Ado Oyeyemi
Health workers at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have embarked on a 72-hour warning strike following the alleged stabbing of a medical laboratory scientist by a patient’s relative.
The victim, identified as Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, was reportedly stabbed in the head while on duty on Sunday, an incident that prompted hospital workers to demand urgent measures to protect staff from violence.
The industrial action was declared by the Joint Action Committee of the hospital’s unions and scheduled to commence at 11 am on Monday, ending at 8 am on Thursday, October 15.
The committee comprises members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research and Allied Institutions, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.
A colleague of the victim, Comrade Oladejo Abiodun, said he received a distress call at about 6.30 pm on Sunday informing him that a medical laboratory scientist on duty had been stabbed in the head and was bleeding.
Abiodun said he immediately rushed to the hospital, where he confirmed the injury, adding that photographs and videos of the incident were available.
The Joint Action Committee condemned the alleged attack, describing it as barbaric and a violation of the dignity, safety and welfare of healthcare professionals.
The unions expressed concern that a facility established to save lives and promote healing could become a place where medical personnel faced physical attacks while carrying out their professional responsibilities.
They stressed that disagreements, frustration or dissatisfaction with hospital services could not justify violence against healthcare workers under any circumstances.
Although the circumstances surrounding the alleged stabbing were not immediately clear, the committee called for an urgent institutional response and formal action by law enforcement agencies.
The unions demanded that the hospital management introduce a clearly defined policy against violence, threats, intimidation, harassment and physical assaults on staff.
They also called for a formal procedure for reporting attacks, improved collaboration with security agencies and an urgent meeting with the hospital management to address security lapses.
The committee warned that assaults on healthcare workers must not be allowed to become normalised, insisting that staff should be able to discharge their duties without fear of physical harm.
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As of the time of filing this report, details of any arrest or police action in connection with the alleged stabbing had yet to be provided.
