BY EBENEKE CLETUS CHIGOZIE

The World Medical Association (WMA) has called on the federal government and health leaders in Nigeria to declare a state of emergency due to increasing violence against health care workers in Nigeria.

WMA President Dr. Osahon Enabulele said this during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Annual General Conference and Delegates Assembly of the Nigerian Medical Association in Jalingo, Taraba State.

In his presentation entitled “Violence Against Healthcare Workers in Nigeria: The Way Forward”, the WMA President condemned the increasing incidence of violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria with an estimated prevalence of 10-60% compared to a global prevalence of 8 – 60%. 38 percent.

Enabulele said: “Despite the tremendous efforts made by doctors and other health professionals to provide health services to the people, they continued to be brutally attacked in their place of residence at work , particularly in emergency care wards, primary care clinics, psychiatric wards and departments of hospitals in Nigeria”.

He identified verbal abuse, physical assault, and kidnapping as common forms of violence against healthcare workers, noting that violence against healthcare workers was primarily patients, patients’ relatives, colleagues, and kidnappers.

Enabulele stated, “Issues related to long wait times, increased workload, inadequate equipment availability, poor communication and negative attitudes from some healthcare professionals, a history of aggressive patient behavior, and dissatisfaction with the care provided are just some of the factors responsible the increasing violence against health workers.

“I call on governments at all levels to declare a state of emergency and zero tolerance for violence in the health sector.”

He also called on the government to improve health system financing and investment in the welfare, safety and working conditions of doctors and other health workers.

He also appealed to governments, law enforcement agencies, health authorities and medical professional organizations such as the NMA to always ensure that any incident of violence against a medical professional is taken to its logical conclusion.