Declare national emergency on violence against healthcare workers, enabulele tells FG

The World Medical Association (WMA) President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, has called on the Federal Government and managers of health institutions in Nigeria to declare an emergency on the rising tide of violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria. The WMA President made the call while delivering a Guest Lecture at the opening ceremony of the 63rd Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) held yesterday at the Catholic Event Centre, Jalingo, Taraba State.

In his lecture titled, ‘Violence Against Healthcare Workers in Nigeria: The Way Forward’, the WMA president decried the rising cases of violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria, which he put at a prevalence of 10-60 per cent compared to the global prevalence of 8-38 per cent. Enabulele expressed great worry that despite the tremendous efforts being made by physicians and other health professionals to deliver health care services to the people, they were still being violently assaulted in their workplaces, particularly in the emergency care units, primary care clinics, wards and psychiatric units of hospitals in Nigeria.

While identifying verbal abuse, physical assault and kidnapping as common forms of violence against healthcare workers, he affirmed that the perpetrators of violence against healthcare workers were mostly the relatives of patients, patients themselves, co-workers and kidnappers. While expressing dismay at the absence of a violence prevention protocol in most healthcare facilities in Nigeria, the WMA President identified issues of long waiting time, increased workload and inadequate supply of equipment, poor communication and negative attitude by some health workers, patient’s history of violent behaviour and dissatisfaction with the care given as some of the factors responsible for the rising cases of violence against healthcare workers.

In his recommendations on how to stem the tide of violence in the health sector, Enabulele called on the government at all levels to declare it as an emergency and adopt a zero-tolerance policy on violence in the health sector. While calling on governments to move speedily towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage, he charged them to address the Social Determinants of Health and resolve all existing health inequities. He equally called on governments to improve the funding of the health system as well as their investments in the well being, security, safety and working conditions of physicians and other health professionals.

He implored governments, law enforcement agencies, health institutions and health professional associations like the NMA to always ensure that every case of violence against a healthcare worker is prosecuted to its logical conclusion. He urged the managers of health institutions to improve the security architecture in their health facilities, develop violence prevention protocols, enhance patient experience and build the capacity of their health personnel, amongst other suggested measures.

 

Source: Guardian

 

 

FG Begins Aso Villa Renovation Ahead Tinubu’s Inauguration

Activities have begun ahead of the swearing-in of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29.
The State House Management has begun renovating and refurbishing different sections of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Politics Nigeria gathered that the concrete perimeter fence encompassing the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, as well as other administrative offices were being overlaid with new white and green paints.

The delivery of new furniture to the green room adjoining the Council Chamber was also observed. In the earlier months, the management had carried out a routine upgrade of card readers and installed barricades in areas, which were once freeways ahead of the change in government. A senior State House official, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the maintenance was part of the tasks carried out by the Presidential Transition Council chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

On February 14, 2023, the Federal Government inaugurated the 22-member Presidential Transition Council ahead of the handover to the incoming government. The committee comprises Cabinet Affairs, General Service Affairs, Economic and Political Affairs, Office of the SGF and State House permanent secretaries, as well as the National Security Adviser, among others. In April, the President-elect nominated 14 more persons to join the transition council.

The official said, “The changes and upgrades we are doing are part of broader maintenance works. Some are routine, while others, like the painting, are done when the Villa is to host a new occupant. “These follow the directives of the transition committee, which the SGF is in charge of. The card readers have since been changed. Those are just routine maintenance done when the old ones have passed their active life. “Repainting is required because, over the years, the State House wildlife accommodates monkeys that roam free and stain these white walls. The bats we have here also deposit their droppings on the walls.”

Asked for the total amount earmarked for the works, the official said, “We don’t go outside the budget allocated to the State House, but the transition committee is shouldering any special cost.” Since 2016, N3.05bn has been earmarked for “maintenance services” at the State House. These include maintenance of office furniture, office buildings and residential quarters, among others.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who took to his Twitter page on Friday, posted a photo where a man was seen painting the external wall of the Villa with white and green paints. He noted that the painting was being done in order to welcome the incoming President. Shehu wrote under the picture, “Painter at work. Villa wearing a new look for the incoming President.”

 

Source: Politics Nigeria