Doctors suspend services at OOUTH over alleged assault on female house officer

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has directed its members at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, to immediately withdraw services following the alleged assault of a female house officer within the hospital premises.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the association described the incident as a disturbing attack on a young doctor who was reportedly assaulted by about seven men said to be students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic after a patient died at the hospital’s accident and emergency unit.

According to NARD, the doctor was allegedly singled out after being identified as one of the medical personnel involved in attending to the deceased patient.

The association condemned the attack, describing it as a violation of the safety and dignity of healthcare workers, stressing that hospitals should remain centres of healing and not scenes of violence.

As part of measures taken in response to the incident, NARD directed all resident doctors and house officers at OOUTH to suspend services until adequate security guarantees are provided by hospital authorities.

The association also demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the assault, insisting that justice must be served to deter future attacks on medical personnel.

NARD further called on the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic to work with security agencies to identify and apprehend the suspects, while also urging the institution to take responsibility for the actions of the students, including payment of the victim’s medical bills and compensation.

In addition, the doctors’ body urged the management of OOUTH to strengthen internal security and address welfare concerns affecting health workers in the hospital.

It warned that failure to act decisively on its demands could trigger wider industrial action across the country, maintaining that the safety of doctors remains non-negotiable.