Hoodlums have attacked EKITI State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, Ado-Ekiti, causing panic and the labor unions at the hospital to declare an emergency and indefinite strike.
It was gathered that some assailants on Monday, January 15 invaded the teaching Hospital and stole a corpse. They were said to have also attacked some doctors and destroyed facilities at the medical facility.
The corpse is suspected to be the father of one of the hoodlums. Following the incident, the Association of Resident Doctors, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti has directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect.
Chief Medical Director, Professor Kayode Olabanji made this known in a letter signed by the President of the Association, Dr Famous Adeyemi.
The statement reads; “The above-named association writes to notify you of the decision of the emergency congress held today to embark on an indefinite strike with immediate effect.
“This follows the actions of hoodlums who stormed the accident and emergency unit of the hospital in the early hours of today and assaulted some members of the association, destroyed several hospital properties and stole a corpse during the attack.
“This attack is happening at a time when our members are showing understanding with the state government on the non-implementation of our demands on improved welfare vis-a-vis being faced with work overload and exhaustion, which is as a result of poor remuneration, pay disparity, and the attending effect of local brain drain.
“We wish to use this opportunity to call on the management of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice for their actions.
“We also implore the state government to, as a matter of urgency, attend to our pending demands, which border on improving the welfare of our members.
“We implore the management and the government to provide a lasting solution to these incessant assaults on our members and ensure safety when they are at their duty post.
“We call on the state assembly to enact a law to criminalise assault on health workers in Ekiti State. The strike will not be called off until our demands are met.”
Spokesperson in charge of the University Teaching Hospital, Rolake Adewumi, confirmed the development and four armed police officers had already been drafted to ensure security at the hospital.
