NARD Orders Immediate Strike at OOUTH Following Brutal Assault on Female Doctor
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a directive for its members to immediately withdraw their services at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu. This drastic action comes in response to a reported brutal assault on a female House Officer, which the association has condemned in the strongest terms. NARD is demanding justice and enhanced protection for healthcare workers across the nation.
Outrage Over Alleged Student-Led Attack
In a statement released on its official X handle, NARD expressed profound outrage and condemnation regarding the incident. The association detailed that the attack involved a group of approximately seven men, who are alleged to be students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic in Saapade. This violent act was described as a gross violation of human dignity, professional sanctity, and the fundamental safety of healthcare providers.
The victim, identified as a young doctor, was reportedly singled out and assaulted following the loss of a patient in the Accident and Emergency unit. She had been part of the medical team that attended to the case, making this targeting particularly egregious. NARD emphasized that such behavior is utterly unacceptable and intolerable in any healthcare setting.
Call for Justice and Enhanced Security Measures
NARD stressed that hospitals must remain sanctuaries of healing, not scenes of violence. It is deeply troubling that doctors, who already work under challenging conditions including delayed remuneration and heavy workloads, are now exposed to physical harm while performing their critical duties. The association warned that such acts undermine the very foundation of the healthcare system and necessitate firm, decisive action from authorities.
Consequently, NARD has directed all its members at OOUTH, including House Officers, to cease services immediately until adequate safety assurances are provided. The association has called for the urgent identification, arrest, and prosecution of all individuals involved in the assault, insisting that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done transparently.
Demands for Institutional Accountability
NARD has urged the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, to collaborate closely with security agencies to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and sanctioned appropriately. Furthermore, the association has called on the institution to take full responsibility for the actions of its students. This includes covering the complete cost of medical care for the assaulted doctor and providing adequate compensation for the trauma endured.
Additionally, NARD has appealed to the management of OOUTH to urgently strengthen security measures within the hospital premises. The introduction of proactive strategies to prevent any recurrence of such incidents is deemed essential. Addressing welfare concerns affecting its members is also critical to ensuring a safe and conducive working environment for all healthcare professionals.
Related Development: Nursing Committee Distances Itself from Unlicensed Practitioner
In a related development, the Ogun State Nursing and Midwifery Committee has officially dissociated itself from an individual named Kehinde Adesanya. This nurse was allegedly responsible for the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member in Abeokuta, the state capital. The committee's statement, signed by Chairman Dr Serifat Aminu on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), clarified that after reviewing records and conducting checks, Adesanya is not licensed or registered by the NMCN to practise nursing in Ogun State or anywhere in Nigeria.
Dr Aminu noted that referring to this person as a nurse constitutes a total misrepresentation, which tarnishes the nursing profession built on rigorous training, certification, and ethical standards. She highlighted that this incident reveals the dangerous prevalence of unqualified individuals posing as healthcare practitioners, thereby putting public health at significant risk. The committee has committed to working with government agencies to identify and prosecute such quacks, urging the public to report any suspected cases to relevant authorities.
