Hoodlums attack doctors at EKSUTH, steal corpse

Labour unions in the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, Ado-Ekiti, have declared an emergency strike following an attack by suspected hoodlums who invaded the medical facility.

This action, Osun Defender gathered has paralysed activities in the hospital.

Some suspected hoodlums invaded the hospital on Monday according to a report and attacked some doctors.

The hoodlums were said to have destroyed some facilities at the hospital and stole a corpse suspected to be the father of one of the hoodlums.

The situation prompted the Association of Resident Doctors, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, to direct its members to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect.

In a letter signed by the President of the Association, Dr Famous Adeyemi and addressed to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Kayode Olabanji, the union said the union assaulted some members of the association.

The letter read, “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.

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“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 (EKSU(TH) 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 bother on improved 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 in their duty posts.

“We call on the state Assembly to enact a law to criminalize assault on health workers in Ekiti State.

“The strike will not be called off until our demands are met.”

The state chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, who addressed the health workers, Mr. Femi Ajoloko, said their lives were in danger due to incessant attacks on them by families of patients.

Ajoloko announced the strike would not be called off until EKSUTH management and the Ekiti State Government guaranteed their security.

Reacting, the EKSUTH Spokesperson, Mrs Rolake Adewumi, who confirmed the incident, said “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Oke- Ila division has commenced a manhunt to apprehend the culprits.”