The Federal Government has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect who allegedly stabbed a medical laboratory scientist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, condemned the attack on the health worker, Mr Lawal Olasunkanmi, describing it as “barbaric and unacceptable”.
In a statement issued on Monday night by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Salako called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that the alleged assailant was brought to justice.
“No grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties,” the minister said.
He assured the public that the ministry would monitor the case to ensure that justice was served.
Salako said the incident highlighted the need to enforce measures introduced by the ministry on Aug. 5 to improve the safety of health workers in federal tertiary hospitals.
He explained that the measures covered enhanced security, the establishment of violence-prevention teams, incident-reporting mechanisms, cooperation with law-enforcement agencies and improved procedures for handling complaints.
“These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,” he said.
The minister also appealed to health workers at FMC Abeokuta, who had embarked on industrial action following the incident, to resume their duties immediately to prevent further disruption to healthcare services.
He urged the workers to allow the security agencies to conduct their investigation and discharge their responsibilities.
Salako called on the hospital management to provide the injured staff member with appropriate medical care and support, while ensuring that security arrangements were strengthened in accordance with Federal Government directives.
He also expressed the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, noting that the loss of a loved one required compassion and appropriate attention.
The minister advised patients and relatives dissatisfied with services at the hospital to pursue their grievances through the facility’s formal complaints mechanism.
He said complaints should be examined fairly and resolved on their merits rather than through violence.
Salako reiterated that the protection of health workers was fundamental to the delivery of safe and uninterrupted healthcare.
He stressed that hospitals must remain secure environments where medical personnel could perform their duties without fear of attack and patients and their families could seek treatment with confidence.
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