Minister of state for health and social welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako
The Federal Government has called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspect who allegedly stabbed a health worker at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the call in a statement issued on Monday night by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Salako condemned the reported stabbing of Mr Lawal Olasunkanmi, a medical laboratory scientist at the hospital, describing the attack as “barbaric and unacceptable”.
“No grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties.”
The minister said the ministry would follow the case to ensure that the alleged assailant was brought to justice.
He said the incident reinforced the urgency of implementing measures directed by the ministry on Aug. 5, to strengthen the protection of health workers in federal tertiary health institutions.
According to him, the measures include strengthened security arrangements, violence-prevention teams, incident reporting, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and improved complaint-handling procedures.
“These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,” he said.
Salako also appealed to health workers, who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to return to work immediately in the interest of patients and the wider public.
He urged the workers to allow security authorities to carry out their duties and pursue the investigation.
The minister further urged the hospital management to ensure that the injured staff member received appropriate medical care and support while strengthening security arrangements in line with Federal Government directives.
He extended the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, stressing that the loss of a loved one deserved compassion and appropriate attention.
Salako urged anyone dissatisfied with the care received at the hospital to use its formal complaints mechanism.
He said that such concerns could be examined fairly and addressed on their merits without recourse to violence.
The minister reiterated that protecting health workers was essential to safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery.
According to him, health facilities must remain safe environments where personnel can perform their duties without fear of violence and patients and their families can seek care with confidence.
NAN