Assault: We Record Physical, Verbal Attacks Every Week — NMA

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter, has said that it records physical or verbal attacks on its members almost every week.

The state NMA Chairman, Dr Ola Ahmed revealed this while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Ilorin.

Ahmed lamented that medical doctors in public healthcare facilities across the state and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) are being attacked for no cogent reason.

“Attacks on our members have been recorded across different hospitals in the state.

“Several reports, engagement and letters have been written to our employees, especially the management of UITH and Kwara Government, but we have not seen remarkable improvement,” he said.

According to Ahmed, the series of assault is causing psychological trauma for their members as they fear for their lives.

He cited the recent attack on a member of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD-UITH, by some relatives of a deceased patient.

He also decried the alleged killing of a medical doctor by patient’s relative in Delta while rendering services, adding that the Kwara NMA will not wait until that happens in the state.

Ahmed stated that the healthcare system was also affected, while observing the poor remuneration, unencouraging condition of service for doctors in the country and inadequate infrastructure to perform duties.

“Many of our colleagues have left the country and the state and many more are ready to leave due to poor working conditions.

“The few of us left are struggling to cope with the difficult working environment, the ever-increasing patient load and at the same time take care of our families,” he said.