The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Keffi branch of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Nasarawa State, on Wednesday, protested alleged assault on a female member of the Association.
The protest, which was led by the branch president at the FMC, Dr Dabot Thomas, took place at the premises of the medical facility in Keffi town.
The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions, which read, “Females can be doctors too and we deserve optimum respect”, “All this hardwork? Wetin e get me? 4 hot slaps!” “Say no to assault. Let’s be guided” among others.
Dr Thomas alleged that the female doctor was slapped several times by family members of a deceased patient at the medical center on Tuesday night, forcing the Association to protest the assault.
According to him, the female medical doctor was assaulted alongside an attendant in the hospital.
“Our member was assaulted together with a hospital attendant when they wanted to pass through a walkway crowded by family members of the deceased patient.
“She was attacked by four of the deceased patient’s relatives and slapped on multiple occasions. She took permission to pass the walkway but was rather assaulted.
“From the information we gathered, the attackers just lost their father and the doctor who was not part of those managing the deceased was on her way to attend to other patients when the incident happened,” he said.
He added that the Association would suspend its services in the facility for 72 hours in protest against the alleged assault on its member.
According to him, it was not the first time a female member would be attacked by the relations of patients.
“The congress has now taken a decision and we are going to stand by the decision.The decision is to down tools for at least 72 hours,” he declared.
Also, speaking about the development, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Yahaya Adamu, promised that Management would institute an investigation into the matter.
He said the investigation would include security personnel from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and Department of State Security (DSS).
He, however, disclosed that one of the suspected attackers had already been arrested and was in Police custody.
“I can assure you they will not go scot-free. We are going to go after them and we will ensure they face the wrath of the law for their actions. If it means going on a court case, we will do that.
“This is pure criminality. So let’s not take it as a union thing. Somebody commits criminality, then he is a criminal and he should be treated as one,” the CMD stated.
