WARRI—NATIONAL Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Delta State branch, commenced an industrial action, yesterday, alleging assault on a nurse at the Central Hospital, Warri, by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Otumara. Meanwhile, doctors in the state, yesterday, called off their “protest withdrawal of services” over insecurity and kidnap of their members by gunmen.
Newsmen gathered that the decision to call off the strike was taken at an emergency meeting of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, branch executive, yesterday. NANNM, in a letter to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, entitled, “Assault on a nurse by the Commissioner for Health – Notice of Industrial Action,” by the state Secretary, Mr Akinfewa Olabode, demanded unreserved apology from the state government and the Commissioner.
Vanguard learnt that the nurses withdrew their services with immediate effect at the Central Hospital, Warri, after the incident on March 29. NANNM in the letter, said: “With total disbelief and shock, the association received the ugly news of assault on a female member of the association, Nurse Akate Oghenero, attached to Central Hospital, Warri, by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Otumara.
This happened due to failure of the nurse to stand up when the commissioner entered her ward. “This is regarded not only as dehumanizing, but also as the height of provocation to the association and entire nurses in the state. The association, therefore, calls for the immediate removal of Dr. Otumara as the state Commissioner for Health.
“The association is also demanding an unreserved apology from the state government and the commissioner and until that is done, nurses in the Central Hospital, Warri, shall withdraw their services with immediate effect. “We seize this opportunity to serve notice of indefinite industrial action by nurses in the state from Monday, April 2, until when justice is seen to be done and the brutal attitude is adequately addressed.”
