Posted on: Wed 17-02-2021

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions Sector (NANNM FHI Sector), that is made up of Nurses and Midwives in the Federal Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and Federal Specialist Hospitals nationwide wishes to draw the attention of the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Labour & Productivity and the general public to the recent upsurge and incessant assaults and brutality by patients, patients relations and some overzealous security personnel on Nurses and Midwives while doing their legitimate duties of caring for their clients/patients. This cruelty is happening especially in the face of challenges confronting our health institutions that ranges from gross inadequacies of needed medical equipment and consumables to shortage of adequate manpower. A fact attested to by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 at the outbreak of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020. 

Records available at our disposal reveals that over 40 Nurses in the Federal Health Institutions have been assaulted and brutalized in the last one year in the following hospitals; Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Federal Medical Centre, Owen-i, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and recently the Federal Medical Centre, Owo on Saturday, 6th February, 2021.

These attacks on nurses and other health workers while on duty in our various hospitals have resulted in our members sustaining varying degrees of physical injuries necessitating hospital admissions by the affected staff. These barbaric acts are often without proper compensation to the affected members, while they are left to bear the burden of treatment from the miserable Five Thousand Naira (=N=5000) monthly hazard allowance being paid by government, couple with the limitations of the NHIS and lack of appropriate sanctions on perpetrators of such cruel acts. The association condemns in very strong terms these barbaric acts that have reached unbearable and intolerable levels and is no longer acceptable and will no longer be tolerated. The association and its members will not wait until Our association and other professional health associations have on several occasions called the attentions of the Honourable Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of Federal Health Institutions to the porous nature of these institutions that remains a threat to the properties and lives of staff working in these various health institutions, especially the critical areas of Accident and Emergency department, Critical/Intensive Care units, Pathology department, Labour ward complexes among others. 

The NANNM FHI Sector wishes to state in very clear terms that Nurses and Midwives will henceforth withdraw their services indefinitely in any health institution where there is any potential or actual threat of assault or brutality on its members. 

We are equally by this notice requesting the Honourable Minister of Health to direct as a matter of urgency, all the Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of Federal Health Institutions to ensure that adequate provision is made for security of lives and properties. We also demand that the management of the Federal Medical Centre, Owo take full responsibility for the treatment of the affected Nurses. pay commensurate compensation and thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure that the culprits are appropriately sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others with similar intentions. 

We sympathize with our members affected, wish them speedy and complete recovery while we solidarize and associate with the actions taken by the unit branch and Ondo State Council of the Association. 

We appreciate the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State Council, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ondo State Branch and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Federal Medical Centre Owo, for their solidarity and show of comradeship. 

Thank you.

Nurse Wale Olatunde

National Chairman 

Nurse Gambo M. Danfulani

National Secretary 

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