The NMA has issued an ultimatum to the Kano State Government to sack the commissioner .
The Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has ordered its members to suspend services at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano over an alleged assault on its member by the state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Amina Abdullahi Ganduje.
The NMA also issued an ultimatum to the state Governor Abba Yusuf to sack Mrs Abdullahi.
The union said the alleged actions of the official “constitute misconduct, punishable by dismissal as enshrined in Section 3(a)(0), (iü), (iv), and (v) of the Public Service Rules.”
In a statement signed by its Chairperson, Abdurrahman Ali: and secretary, Ibrahim Muhammad; the NMA said it was “deeply alarmed and outraged” by the incident that took place on 1 November at the Emergency Paediatric Unit of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
“In this distressing incident, a female doctor on duty, who was all alone manning all the paediatric units in the hospital with over a hundred patients in her care, was subjected to harassment and physical assault by a group led by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Amina Abdullahi, HOD, accompanied by security personnel and other unidentified men.
“This assault arose over the unavailability of a prescribed medication-an issue that was entirely beyond the doctor’s control,” the NMA stated.
The group said as a representative body for medical professionals, “the NMA Kano Branch finds it particularly disturbing that an official entrusted with the welfare of the state’s citizens would misuse their authority in this manner.
“Such actions not only demonstrate a lack of empathy for the hard-working healthcare professionals but also reveal a troubling disregard for the systemic challenges facing our public health sector, such as chronic understaffing, resource shortages, and security concerns for medical staff.
“Incidents like this are becoming all too frequent, putting medical professionals at unacceptable personal risk while they strive to fulfill their duties to the public under highly challenging conditions.”
The association said it discussed the incident at its recently concluded Ordinary General Meeting (0GM), “and we unequivocally condemned the misused of authority, thus, the Association’s Congress has resolved to call for the dismissal of the commissioner who has demonstrated a gross lack of respect and compassion for frontline healthcare workers and a disturbing disregard for the ethical standards expected of public office holders.
“Also, the NMA demands the implementation of the minimum benchmark for the number of doctors required to provide adequate care thereby preventing the extreme overstretching of medical personnel, which puts both patients and healthcare workers at risk.
“We call for the immediate provision and continuous maintenance of adequate security measures in all units of the hospital to ensure the safety of medical staff and patients alike” the NMA said.
