Health

Patients at Ogun Hospital Stage Protest Over Substandard Treatment

Written by Jerry Alomatu on May 16, 2024

News Views: 229

Patients at Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, reportedly staged a protest on Wednesday against the substandard treatment they endure at the facility.

During the demonstration, some patients allegedly assaulted a doctor, prompting nurses and other medical staff to flee. The protest, which caught the entire hospital staff off guard, lasted for over two hours until police officers from the Lafenwa Divisional Headquarters intervened.

According to a witness, the grievances of the protesting patients revolved around issues such as inadequate food, poor sanitation, lack of responsiveness from hospital management, and the absence of backup power during electricity outages from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

“The situation has been deteriorating, and today the patients felt compelled to voice their discontent, despite little hope of immediate improvement,” the source explained.

A family member of one patient, speaking anonymously, disclosed that affected patients pay between N500,000 to N700,000, depending on their length of stay at the hospital.

The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Bola Ajibola, redirected inquiries about the incident to the hospital management.

Confirming the incident, Lafenwa Divisional Police Officer, Enatufe Omoh, stated that only one doctor was attacked during the protest. Enatufe explained that the protesters were dissatisfied with certain restrictions imposed by the hospital, such as limitations on visiting hours and movement within the facility.