Nursing Media Network

Nurses from the Ogun State Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, along with their colleagues from various parts of the state, took to the streets on Thursday in a peaceful protest against the alleged assault of a final-year nursing student by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Nurudeen Adekunle. The protest came in response to an incident on September 24, when Dr. Adekunle allegedly slapped the student nurse during a procedure in the hospital’s theater.

The Alleged Incident

According to reports, the unnamed student nurse, who is in her final year of nursing school, was assisting Dr. Adekunle in the operating room when the altercation occurred. Witnesses claim that the consultant surgeon slapped the student after a disagreement about the procedure. The details of the disagreement remain unclear, but the assault has sparked outrage among the nursing community, who see the incident as part of a broader pattern of bullying and harassment faced by nurses in the workplace.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the union representing nurses across the country, quickly mobilized in response to the incident. The association’s Ogun State Chairman, Comrade Adejoke Bello, led the protest, which was held outside the Ogun State Hospital in Ijaye. Despite heavy morning rain, hundreds of nurses participated in the protest, chanting songs and holding placards with messages like “End Bullying of Nurses,” “Bullying of Nurses is Not Acceptable,” and “Respect for Nurses.”

Calls for Justice

Speaking at the protest, Bello condemned the assault as a violation of public service rules and called for immediate disciplinary action against Dr. Adekunle. She explained that the protest was a last resort after repeated attempts to address the issue through official channels had been ignored.

“The peaceful demonstration is to register our dissatisfaction and displeasure over an unethical practice by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with Ogun State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta,” Bello said. “Nurudeen Adekunle slapped a final-year student nurse on September 24. This is an assault, and it is against public service rules. It should not have happened under any circumstances. It is gross misconduct to slap your subordinate at work.”

Bello expressed frustration that the hospital management had failed to act on the issue despite being notified of the incident days earlier. “We have written to the appropriate quarters since last Monday and gave them 48 hours to address this unfortunate incident, but we have heard nothing from them. The management of this hospital has not called us or taken any action. So, we are left with no choice but to mobilize for this peaceful protest,” she said.

The nurses demanded that Dr. Adekunle be brought to justice in accordance with public service regulations, insisting that harassment and assault in the workplace would no longer be tolerated. Bello made it clear that the nursing community was unified in their stance and would continue to push for accountability.

“We are saying no to harassment and assault of nurses. The entire nurses in Ogun State will not tolerate this kind of treatment. We demand justice,” she said.

Widespread Support

The protest was not limited to nurses from Ogun State Hospital alone. Nurses from other hospitals and healthcare facilities across the state joined in solidarity, further highlighting the widespread concern about bullying and harassment in the nursing profession. Many participants shared their own experiences of being mistreated by doctors and other healthcare professionals, underscoring the need for systemic change.

One of the protesters, Comrade Lola Idowu Falujo, the Unit Chairman of NANNM at the State Hospital, Ijaye, expressed her outrage over the incident and stressed that bullying of nurses must come to an end. “We are out to end bullying of nurses,” Falujo said. “We are saying no to all forms of assault against nurses. We are doing our best in this hospital to care for our patients and move the state and country forward. We don’t deserve any form of maltreatment.”

Falujo also condemned the threats reportedly made by Dr. Adekunle against the student nurse. According to Falujo, after the incident, Dr. Adekunle allegedly threatened the student, warning that if the student spoke about the assault, he would ensure that the student would not graduate. “This is completely unacceptable,” Falujo said. “We demand that the government take immediate action to protect nurses and ensure that such incidents do not happen again.”

The Broader Issue of Bullying in Healthcare

The protest in Ogun State highlights a broader issue within Nigeria’s healthcare system: the mistreatment of nurses by doctors and other healthcare professionals. Nurses, who are often on the frontlines of patient care, frequently face bullying, harassment, and even physical violence in the workplace. This mistreatment not only affects their professional lives but also has serious implications for patient care and the overall healthcare system.

Nurses who are subjected to bullying may experience burnout, depression, and anxiety, which can negatively impact their ability to provide quality care. Additionally, a toxic work environment can lead to high turnover rates, further straining an already overburdened healthcare system.

NANNM and other nursing associations have been calling for reforms to address these issues, including stricter enforcement of public service rules, better protection for nurses, and improved working conditions. The protest in Ogun State is part of a growing movement within the nursing profession to demand respect and recognition for their critical role in healthcare.

Government Response

In response to the protest, the Permanent Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Dr. Olayinka Elemide, addressed the protesters and assured them that the government was aware of the situation and was taking steps to address it. Elemide said that both the doctor and the student nurse were under the care of the government, and that due process would be followed to ensure that justice was served.

“The government is aware of this situation and is already making steps to ensure that due process is followed,” Elemide said. “The doctor and the student nurse are both in the care of the government, and we are on top of the situation. We ask for your patience as we handle the matter.”

While Elemide’s remarks offered some reassurance, the protesting nurses remained skeptical, noting that they had not received any formal response from the hospital management regarding the incident. Bello and the other leaders of the protest gave the hospital management a four-hour ultimatum to officially respond to their complaints in writing, warning that further action would be taken if their demands were not met.

What’s Next?

As of now, the nurses have returned to work, but the situation remains unresolved. NANNM has indicated that they will continue to monitor the case and may escalate their actions if the hospital management and the government fail to take appropriate steps to address the issue.

The protest has drawn significant attention to the issue of bullying in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, and it remains to be seen whether this incident will lead to broader reforms. For now, the nursing community in Ogun State is standing firm in its demand for justice, calling for an end to bullying, and insisting on respect for their profession.

The Ogun State nurses’ protest serves as a reminder of the critical role nurses play in the healthcare system and the challenges they face in carrying out their duties. As the healthcare sector continues to evolve, addressing the mistreatment of nurses must be a priority to ensure that they can continue to provide the essential care that patients rely on.