Resident doctors resume emergency services in FCT
Following an appeal made to the protesting members of the Association of Resident Doctors by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, members of the body have resumed emergency services.
It would be recalled that members of the association had embarked on an industrial action to protest the mob attack on a female medical doctor at the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, by relatives of a patient who passed on while under the care of the hospital.
Briefing the minister on the outcome of an emergency meeting, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, FCT branch, Dr. Roland Aigbovo, said the group has decided to resume emergency services in all public hospitals across the territory as a demonstration of commitment to duty and as a mark of respect to FCT Administration.
He assured the minister that full clinical services will resume after the outcome of a congress slated for January 17, 2020, while thanking the minister for her prompt response to the cry of members.
Responding, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, thanked the resident doctors for their understanding, just as she appealed to members to call off the strike in the interest of patients.
Aliyu assured that the administration will take proactive steps in securing hospital premises by installing Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) to monitor activities of criminals and those who want to perpetrate crime against health workers.
The minister also assured that the administration will henceforth beef up the numbers of paramilitary personnel in the hospitals to provide security to both health workers and patients.
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“We will not allow our health workers to be assaulted by anybody again in the territory. As an interim measure, we will increase the numbers of civil defence personnel deployed to our public health institutions and on the long run, CCTV will be installed to fish out perpetrators of those assaulting our health workers.
“Nevertheless, I thank you on behalf of the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, for showing understanding and dedication to duty. Let me assure you that the administration will not disappoint you in the discharge of your duties,” Aliyu stressed.
