Nurses at Ogun State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, staged a protest on Thursday, expressing outrage over the alleged assault of a final-year student nurse by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Adekunle Nurudeen.
The demonstrators, defying the rain and carrying placards with messages such as “End bullying of nurses” and “Respect for care,” claimed Nurudeen slapped the student nurse in the operating theatre on September 24. Despite appeals to the hospital’s management and government authorities for redress, they said no action had been taken.
Led by the state Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Comr Adejoke Bello, the protesters condemned the alleged assault as a violation of public service rules and demanded accountability. Bello emphasized that such misconduct should not be tolerated in the healthcare setting.
“We have written to the appropriate authorities, giving them 48 hours to address this issue, but there has been no response,” Bello said. She noted that the nurses had returned to work but gave the hospital management four hours to respond in writing, voicing their dissatisfaction over the incident.
Lola Falujo, NANNM Unit Chairman at the hospital, also criticized the alleged bullying, stating that such behavior towards nurses must stop. She cited threats made by the consultant to hinder the student’s graduation if the incident was reported.
In response, Dr. Olayinka Elemide, Permanent Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, assured the protesters that the government was aware of the situation and taking steps to ensure due process. He stated, “The doctor and the student nurse are both under the government’s care, and the situation is being addressed.”
The protest has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about workplace bullying and the treatment of healthcare workers in the state.
