Nigeria: Govt Orders Measures to Protect Health Workers From Harassment, Assault
[Premium Times] She said the committee reviewed reports from Federal Tertiary Health Institutions and consulted relevant professional, regulatory, security and human rights bodies before submitting its findings to government.
The Nigerian government has ordered measures to protect health workers from harassment, intimidation and assault following a rise in incidents in healthcare facilities. This directive comes after a report by the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers. The committee, established after an incident involving Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives and workers at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, investigated 18 cases of assault, intimidation or harassment across federal tertiary health institutions in the past year.
The incidents involved patients, relatives, the public and security personnel, resulting in physical injuries, psychological harm, property damage and service disruptions. Poor communication, long waiting times, inadequate staffing, poor infrastructure, emotional distress, abuse of authority and a lack of clear security protocols were identified as contributing factors.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, accepted the committee's recommendations and ordered their immediate implementation. Health institutions are directed to strengthen internal security, establish Violence Prevention Teams, improve access control and surveillance, and designate liaison officers for engagement with law enforcement agencies.
All incidents of assault, threats or harassment must be reported, investigated and documented, with affected workers receiving institutional support and appropriate referrals. The federal government emphasizes that healthcare providers must be able to deliver care in a safe, secure environment free from violence, intimidation or harassment.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
