The Nigeria Medical Association has expressed concern over what it described as an upsurge in violent attacks on its members and other health workers while discharging their duties.
Speaking while inaugurating a committee on the improvement of hospital services on Thursday in Abuja, the Chairman of the NMA, Federal Capital Territory chapter, Dr. Charles Ugwuanyi, said the association has been inundated with reports of violent assault on doctors and health workers by aggreived patients at hospitals.
Ugwuanyi gave an example of a recent incident whereby a female gynaecologist was assaulted in her place of work, adding that she sustained severe brain injury. Ugwuanyi said the result of the reckless acts is that “more of our younger colleagues are getting scared of being involved, getting deeper in this profession”, adding that the situation is further “swelling the ranks of doctors leaving the country for greener pastures in foreign land”.