The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kano State Branch, has announced withdrawal of services from the Emergency Pediatric Unit of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital with immediate effect.
This follows the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum issued to the state governor, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, to sack the state commissioner for humanitarian affairs, Amina Abdullahi, HOD, over the alleged assault on a female doctor at the hospital.
According to the Public Relations Officer, NMA Kano, Dr. Muhammad Aminu Musa, the strike is a result of a lack of concrete action taken by the Kano State Government.
“An investigation conducted by the Ministry of Health has confirmed that the doctor was not at fault in the incident, verifying that she acted with full professionalism in her duties.
“Despite this, no action has been taken to address the misconduct of the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, who led this assault and harassed a healthcare worker performing her duties under extremely challenging conditions.
“The NMA Kano has therefore resolved to withdraw all medical services at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital indefinitely, effective from noon today, 6th November 2024.”
He said the action would not be reversed until the government dismisses the commissioner and provides adequate staffing and resource allocation and enhances security measures.
“Immediate steps must be taken to meet the minimum benchmark requirement for healthcare personnel in the facility, ensuring that doctors are not forced to work under conditions that put their safety and patients health at risk.
“Provision and maintenance of adequate security for all units within the hospital to protect healthcare workers and patients.”
He therefore reiterated the NMA’s commitment to the highest standards of medical care and patient safety, adding that the action is intended to underscore the urgency of justice and reforms to protect healthcare professionals.
“We call on the government to act swiftly and decisively to restore confidence in Kansas State’s healthcare system and ensure a safe working environment for all medical personnel,” he concluded.
Grassroots Parrot had reported how the embattled commissioner dared the association to go on strike, denying allegations of assault on the female doctor.
READ ALSO: Let Them Go On Strike, Kano Commissioner Dares NMA Over Alleged Doctor’s Assault
Abdullahi made the denial in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday after the NMA called for her dismissal over the Saturday midnight incident at the Emergency Paediatric Unit of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
Reacting, however, the accused commissioner said, “Let them go on strike now! They are not the ones that appointed me. My office is the humanitarian office.”.
The commissioner, who accused the health worker of negligence, narrated how she was ignored by the staff when she intervened in a situation where a patient could not get prompt treatment.
READ ALSO: Doctor’s Assault: NMA Gives Kano Govt 48 Hours To Sack Commissioner
“I cannot even recognize her voice; I don’t know what she looks like because she did not respond to me.
“Somebody called me—her patient—she was knocking on the door of the nurse; the nurse locked the door and refused to attend to the patient. And the patient was fainting. I rushed from a wedding to the hospital.
“When I got there, I met her on the table, attending to patients… I greeted her; she didn’t respond. I greeted her secondly, but she didn’t respond. Then the third time I said, Nurse, what is going on here?
“Then she looked at me up and down, folded her arms on her chest, and went to her office and banged the door of her office. I went to my car stranded, and I was provoked.” She narrated.
Denying any personal confrontation with the doctor, Abdullahi said she called the Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Government, who did not receive her calls until the matter escalated.
READ ALSO: NMA Wants FG To Establish Health Sector Development Bank
According to her, “I called the commissioner for health five times; he didn’t respond. I called the SSG; he didn’t respond to my call.
“Later on, she called her husband and the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) of the hospital. They went directly to the door and knocked on the door. I don’t know what they discussed.”
The commissioner noted that the chief medical officer and chief security officer acknowledged the wrongdoings of the doctor and were instructed by the commissioner to submit a report recommending her punishment.
“Then the health commissioner called me back. I started narrating what was going on, and I said, See the CMO of the hospital; he can narrate better to you. The CMO and the Chief Security narrated all that happened, and then the commissioner gave an instruction that early in the morning on Monday, they should write a report and bring it to him for her (the doctor) to be punished. That was all I knew.” She explained.