The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Uche Ojinmah, has called for the prosecution and conviction of some people who killed one of its members, Dr Uyi Iluobe, at a hospital in Oghara, Delta State.
It was reported that these suspects, who were his patient’s relatives murdered Iluobe on December 31, 2022.
Reacting to the incident on Monday, Ojinmah, in a statement called on the National Assembly to criminalise violence against healthcare workers in the country so that defaulters can face the wrath of the law.
Ojinmah said, “The Nigerian Medical Association received with shock and sadness the news of the murder on December 31, 2022, of Dr Iluobe by the relatives of his patient at Oghara, where his practice was based.
“The above scenario being the response of the relatives to the loss of a patient from suspected gunshot injuries can never be justified and has taken violence against doctors and other healthcare workers from injuries to murder.
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“It is unbelievable that in the face of a debilitating medical brain drain, the few doctors that patriotically decided to stay back and take care of our fellow citizens are being murdered by same Nigerians.”
The association stated that it sympathises with families who lost their loved ones during treatment in the hospital, but stated that violence against health care practitioners won’t be tolerated.
It also called on the Government of Delta State, and the Inspector-General of Police to bring the perpetrators of the devilish act to book so as to sound as a note of warning for others who might want to follow in their steps and assuage the pain felt by the late doctor’s loved ones and colleagues.
“The Nigerian Medical Association uses this medium to call on the National Assembly to make a law criminalising violence against healthcare workers. Please save our souls from wanton attacks by fellow Nigerians.
“We are closely monitoring the handling of the case of Dr Uyi Iluobe’s murder and shall respond as the need arises. Enough is enough,” the statement read.