By Kemi Olatunde
The Management of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure complex (UNIMEDTH) yesterday condemned the recent attack on members of staff of the hospital by relative of a patient on Tuesday.
The patient, a 51-year- old Ewagwu Augustine was reported to have died due to his refusal for treatment before being referred to another hospital for prompt medical attention at the Accident and Emergency unit of the hospital.
Speaking with The Hope on behalf of the hospital management, Secretary of the hospital, Mr Luyi Abiodun said it has become a recurrent incident in the hospital for relatives of patients to assault health workers, noting that it is high time government intervened.
According to him, it took the intervention of Amotekun operatives and policemen from ‘A’ Division before normalcy could be restored to the hospital.
He explained that it is important that residents accord health workers the deserved respect, stating that they have been positioned to save lives.
He stressed the need for people to allow reasons prevail over violence, adding that they should desist from creating fear in staff of the hospital so as to enable them overcome their health challenges.
Giving a vivid narration of what transpired, a male nurse, Baale Emmanuel said that the patient had earlier been brought in a few days ago but refused admission due to reasons known to him.
According to him; ” They brought him again yesterday (Tuesday) and he was admitted but he refused infusion and injection. We then told his relatives that he needed to be referred to where he would be managed by a specialist and gave them the option of either going with the hospital Ambulance or get a vehicle to convey him.
“They agreed to get a vehicle which they couldn’t get. They later agreed to use the hospital’s Ambulance when the patient was almost passed out but due to their negligence he passed out after which the assault began.
“Immediately, one of them attacked the Assessment Officer, while another attacked the Ambulance driver. Our security moved in at this point as everybody began to scamper for safety including those on admission alongside their relatives.
“The patient’s wife slapped the security officer, the doctor on duty fell down twice as he was being chased before he was rescued.”
