Nurses at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, staged a protest on Thursday over the alleged assault of a student nurse by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital. The protest was led by Adejoke Bello, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Ogun State.
According to reports, the incident occurred on September 24, when a medical doctor allegedly slapped the student nurse in the theatre suite. The nurses expressed their frustration, stating that all efforts to seek redress from the state government since the incident have been unsuccessful.
The protesting nurses chanted slogans and carried placards with messages such as “End bullying of nurses,” “Justice for nurses, a must,” and “Respect for care.” Bello emphasized that the protest aimed to address what she described as the unethical practice of the doctor, stating that such assault is a gross misconduct that should not occur in a professional setting.
“This protest should not have been necessary, but we have not received any response from the hospital management after giving them 48 hours to address the incident,” Bello stated. She called for justice to be served in accordance with public service rules.
Lola Idowu-Falujo, the hospital’s Unit Chairman of NANNM, echoed Bello’s sentiments, condemning the alleged harassment as falling below the standards of public service. She highlighted that the nurses are committed to providing quality care and should not be subjected to maltreatment.
The Permanent Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Olayinka Elemide, addressed the nurses, assuring them that the government is aware of the situation and is taking steps to address it. She emphasized that both the doctor and the student nurse are under government care and that due process will be followed