Federal Government orders crackdown on assaults, harassment of health workers nationwide

 The federal government has directed the immediate implementation of measures to protect health workers across the country.  In a statement on Wednesday, Daju Kachollom, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the directive followed the submission of the report of the ministerial committee on the harassment of health workers by security personnel.   Kachollom said the committee was constituted on May 19, 2026, following the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom state incident, involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).   “The incident disrupted clinical services and triggered industrial action,” the statement reads.     “In carrying out its assignment, the committee reviewed reports from federal tertiary health institutions and consulted relevant professional, regulatory, security, and human rights bodies.   “The committee found that the Uyo incident was not isolated. Eighteen incidents of assault, intimidation, or harassment were reported across federal tertiary health institutions within the preceding twelve months, involving patients, relatives, members of the public, and security personnel.”   The statement added that the incidents led to bodily injury, psychological harm, damage to hospital property, disruption of services, and industrial action.     Kachallam listed poor communication, prolonged waiting times, inadequate staffing, deficient infrastructure, emotional distress, abuse of authority, and the absence of clear security protocols as contributory factors.   “Upon receiving the report, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, accepted the committee’s recommendations and directed their immediate implementation in accordance with the accompanying action plan,” the statement reads.   “Health workers dedicate their lives to caring for Nigerians and must be able to carry out their duties in an environment that is safe, secure, and free from violence, intimidation, or harassment.   “The federal government will continue to work with all relevant institutions to protect our health workforce, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that healthcare delivery is never compromised.”   She said the committee recommended that federal tertiary health institutions strengthen security, investigate and prosecute attacks on health workers, and establish violence prevention teams.   “Anyone who assaults, threatens, intimidates or harasses a health worker shall be investigated and, where the evidence so warrants, prosecuted under the applicable laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement reads.   The permanent secretary also said the committee suggested prompt reporting of incidents and staff training.   She added that broader policy recommendations would be presented to the National Council on Health for adoption.   In May, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) demanded an immediate presidential order mandating the strict prosecution of anyone who assaults healthcare workers or invades health facilities across the country.   Mohammad Suleiman, NARD president, expressed “grave outrage and deep concern” over what it described as the alarming rise in violence, intimidation, harassment, and brutal assaults against healthcare workers across Nigeria.    

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja The Federal Government has ordered the immediate implementation of measures to protect health workers nationwide following revelations that at least 18 cases of assault, intimidation and harassment were recorded across federal tertiary health institutions within the past year. The directive followed the submission of the report of the Ministerial Committee on […] The post FG orders crackdown on assaults against health workers after 18 attacks appeared first on Vanguard News.