COVID-19: Nigerian doctors threaten to withdraw services 

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to withdraw its services over an alleged assault of a medical doctor in Kaduna state.

Chairman of the association, Dr Stephen Kache, in a press statement, demanded appropriate disciplinary action against a police inspector who allegedly assaulted a medical doctor in Kaduna on April 23.

NMA threatened to withdraw its services if the police failed to take disciplinary action against the inspector immediately.

According to them, the medical doctor in question was on legitimate duty with his valid identification when the incident happened.

The statement added that the affected doctor sustained bruises during an altercation with the police officer.

“This, unfortunately, is not the first incident; two weeks ago the ambulance of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, conveying doctors and other health workers was assaulted by men of the Nigerian police force,” the NMA added.

‘We are aware that the said Inspector has been arrested and is currently in custody.

“We call on the state government as well as the Police hierarchy to look into the issue with the view of meting out appropriate sanctions to this erring officer to serve as a deterrent to others who will, unfortunately, hope to follow in his footsteps.”

The association demanded that the police inspector in question undergo a psychiatric evaluation to ascertain if he is fit enough to serve in the Nigerian police force.

“Failure to appropriately sanction the officer will leave us with no choice but to recall our members from offering any kind of services within the state.

They lamented the attitude of some security personnel towards healthcare workers on the frontline fighting to contain the COVID -19 pandemic.

“Since the onset of this pandemic over 40 healthcare professionals within the country have been infected by the dreaded virus in the line of duty,” the statement added.