UlTH assault: We record attacks every week – NMA

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The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter, has said that it recorded physical or verbal attacks on its members almost every week.

Dr Ola Ahmed, the state NMA Chairman, made this known to newsmen on Monday in Ilorin.

Ahmed lamented that medical doctors in public healthcare facilities across the state and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) are being attacked for no cogent reason.

“Attacks on our members have been recorded across different hospitals in the state. Several reports, engagement and letters have been written to our employees,  especially the management of UITH and Kwara Government, but we have not seen remarkable improvement,” he said.

Ahmed revealed that the series of assault is causing psychological trauma for their members as they fear for their lives.

He cited the recent attack on a member of the Association of Resident Doctors, ARD-UITH, by some relatives of a deceased patient.

He also decried the alleged killing of a medical doctor by patient’s relative in Delta while rendering services, adding that the Kwara NMA will not wait until that happens in the state.

The chairman however observed that 2022 was a very tough year for all Nigerians due to the economic hardship, as occassioned by high inflation, high cost of goods and services.

He also cited the devastating flood that ravaged many states, including Kwara, and later compounded by high cost  petroleum products.

Ahmed stated that the healthcare system was also affected, while observing the poor remuneration, poor condition of service for doctors in the country and inadequate infrastructure to perform duties.

“Many of our colleagues have left the country and the state and many more are ready to leave due to poor working conditions.

“The few of us left are struggling to cope with the difficult working environment, the ever-increasing patient load and at the same time take care of our families,” he said.

Ahmed therefore appealed for understanding and patience from people, in following due process in expressing their grievances, adding that doctors will give care with respect and dignity to all.

He also called on the public to empathise with medical doctors irrespective of the challenges they face or their dissatisfaction in the course of receiving care in hospitals to channel their grievances to appropriate quarters.

Besides, the chairman urged security agencies, most especially the Police, to beef up security in UITH and other health facilities, and ensure diligent prosecution of ongoing cases of attack on healthcare personnel in the state to serve deterrence

APC remains focused on national unity —Abdullahi Adamu

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, says the ruling party remains very much focused on promoting national unity.

While acknowledging that the call for national unity by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, is apt ahead of 2023 general election, Adamu said the objective of attaining national unity should be embraced by all in totality.

His words: “I think we expect no more than he said; any well meaning Nigerian and knowing the significance of democracy today in contemporary politics and governance, we cannot but accept in totality that call by the Emir and that is a call every reasonable Nigerian, every patriotic Nigerian, and not only those of us who work for it must accept.”

Adamu addressed the media at the Katsina country home of the Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, in company of Sen. Hadi Sirika, Aviation Minister, and Sani Ahmed Daura, Katsina State APC Chairman, after felicitating with Abubakar on his turbaning as Sardaunan Katsina.

Adamu also drew positive from the title conferred on the veteran diplomat by the Katsina monarch, saying the honour is a wake-up call to Nigerians.

“It’s is a wake-up call to this generation of Nigerians to do what Sardaunan (of Sokoto and late Premier of then Northern Nigeria) did for the North, for which we remember him so much.

“It’s a big, big blessing; it’s a kind of honour that is not bestowed on everyone in this part of the world and we thank the Almighty God for picking him (Abubakar) and for the Emir of Katsina to so honour him,” Adamu said.

He also called on billionaire business mogul cum politician, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, over the recent demise of his younger brother and Chief Executive of Max Airline, Bashir, before a whistle stop in Government House Katsina for a courtesy call on the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari