FMC Abeokuta: 3-Day Healthcare Strike After Patient Relative Attack

• Healthcare workers at FMC Abeokuta began a three-day warning strike after a medical scientist was stabbed by a patient's relative.
• Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi was attacked on duty, prompting the Joint Action Committee to demand justice and improved safety.
• Minister Iziaq Salako condemned the "barbaric" incident and called for the suspect's immediate arrest and prosecution.
• The Joint Action Committee insists on accountability, comprehensive care for the injured worker, and strengthened security measures.
• The incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced Nigeria healthcare worker safety protocols and security in hospitals.

No level of grief, frustration, or dissatisfaction with care can ever justify violence against a healthcare worker performing their lawful duties.

Healthcare professionals at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have initiated a three-day warning strike following a severe incident of patient-related violence. The industrial action commenced after Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, a medical laboratory scientist, was allegedly stabbed by a patient's relative while on duty at the hospital on a Sunday night. This alarming Ogun State hospital worker assault, captured in a video shared on X depicting Olasunkanmi bleeding from his nose as his alleged assailant issued threats, immediately triggered a strong response from the hospital's staff.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of FMC Abeokuta, representing nurses, medical laboratory scientists, and other non-academic personnel, promptly called for the strike on Monday. In a notice issued the same day, the committee expressed profound displeasure and outrage over the attack, unequivocally condemning the violence. They stressed that such an incident constitutes an assault on the dignity, safety, and overall welfare of healthcare professionals, asserting that violence against those providing essential medical services cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.

In the wake of the Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta industrial action, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) has made several critical demands to ensure justice and prevent future occurrences. The committee urged the hospital management to formally report the incident to appropriate law enforcement agencies, insisting on a thorough investigation and prosecution of the alleged assailant in accordance with the law. They also issued a stern warning against any attempts to conceal, downplay, or resolve the incident in a manner that would undermine accountability, emphasizing that workers cannot remain silent when their safety is compromised.

Beyond legal action, the JAC demanded comprehensive medical treatment for Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, along with necessary psychological support and institutional assistance throughout his recovery. Responding to the crisis, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, publicly condemned the incident as "barbaric and unacceptable" in a statement released on Tuesday by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations. Minister Salako called upon the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspect involved in the attack, reiterating that no level of grief, frustration, or dissatisfaction with care can ever justify violence against a healthcare worker performing their lawful duties. He also extended condolences to the family of the deceased patient, advising the public to utilize formal channels for any hospital service complaints.

The recent stabbing at FMC Abeokuta underscores a critical and ongoing challenge regarding Nigeria healthcare worker safety. The Joint Action Committee highlighted that hospitals must serve as safe environments for both patients and staff, asserting that disagreements or frustrations over medical services can never justify physical attacks. This incident, therefore, serves as a stark reminder for healthcare providers across Ogun State and the wider nation to urgently review and bolster their workplace safety protocols and security measures.

Minister Iziaq Salako further reinforced this imperative, urging the striking healthcare workers to return to their duties in the interest of patients and the broader public, while simultaneously directing hospital management to strengthen security arrangements in line with Federal Government directives. This directive emphasizes the need for robust security frameworks to protect staff from patient-related violence. Compliance officers within healthcare institutions must ensure strict adherence to these government mandates, while legal counsel should proactively advise on potential liabilities, the criminal prosecution of assailants, and effective strategies to prevent or manage industrial actions that arise from legitimate staff safety concerns. The collective concern for the hospital's workforce, as articulated by the JAC, makes it clear that ensuring a secure environment is paramount for the continued provision of essential medical services.

Hospitals and healthcare providers in Nigeria, especially in Ogun State, should immediately review and strengthen their workplace safety protocols and security measures to protect staff from patient-related violence. Compliance officers must ensure adherence to government directives on security, while legal counsel should advise on potential liabilities, criminal prosecution of assailants, and strategies to prevent or manage industrial actions stemming from staff safety concerns.

Source: Original reporting via Vanguard.