Tension gripped the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado Ekiti, on Friday when some accident victims allegedly turned violent and assaulted medical personnel attending to them
The ugly incident, which disrupted operations at the tertiary health facility, drew sharp condemnation from the Ekiti State Government which described the action as “barbaric and unacceptable.”
Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, in a statement on Sunday, said the matter had been reported to the police while assuring that those behind the attack would face the full weight of the law.
“Any form of violence, harassment, or intimidation against healthcare personnel will not be tolerated under any circumstance. Our doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals work under strenuous conditions to preserve life and provide vital healthcare to all who come through our hospital doors,” the commissioner said.
Filani lamented that hospitals, which should serve as centres of healing and compassion, were being turned into grounds of violence.
“An attack on them is not only an attack on individuals but a threat to our collective well-being and access to timely, quality healthcare,” he added.
The commissioner appealed to residents to exercise patience during emergencies and channel their grievances through lawful means rather than resorting to violence.
He also revealed that the government was working closely with security agencies and hospital authorities to strengthen safety measures within medical facilities to forestall similar incidents.
While warning that perpetrators would not go unpunished, Filani stressed: “Violence is never the answer. We must protect those who have sworn to protect and preserve our lives.”
