NMA condemns assault on Igbobi doctor

Bukola Adebayo

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association has condemned an alleged assault on one of its members at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos by a personnel of the Nigerian Army while on duty.

A soldier was said to have physically assaulted a doctor last week at the hospital after the medical personnel asked him to pay the medical bill of his wounded relative.

Doctors at the hospital embarked on a strike to protest the incident.

In a press statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Dr Olumuyiwa Odusote and the Secretary, Dr. Sunday Luro, called on relevant authorities of the defence ministry to investigate the matter with the intent of bringing the concerned personnel to book.

It stated, “We wish to state that the rate at which security personnel (military and paramilitary), whose primary duty is to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, carryout callous and barbaric acts of brutalisation on civilians, especially medical and dental practitioners, in recent time calls for concern. We are worried that if nothing is done urgently to address this ugly tendency, more civilians will fall victim.”

“While we have everything possible to ensure the stability of health care delivery in the hospital and prevent the degeneration of the matter, we wish to state clearly that we condemn this act, which is considered as an assault not only to the molested and brutalised doctor but to the medical profession and the entire citizenry.”

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