The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kano State chapter, has declared an indefinite suspension of medical services at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, starting at 12:00 pm on November 6, 2024.
This decision follows the Kano State government’s alleged failure to act on the NMA’s demand to suspend the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, who is accused of assaulting a female doctor.
The announcement was made through a statement signed by Dr. Muhammad Aminu Musa, the NMA’s Public Relations Officer.
As reported by LEADERSHIP, the incident occurred on November 1, 2024, when the doctor was treating patients in the hospital’s Emergency Paediatric Unit. The NMA claims that the Commissioner, along with her security team, harassed and assaulted the doctor due to the unavailability of a prescribed medication.
An investigation by the Ministry of Health later confirmed that the doctor had acted in accordance with professional standards and was not responsible for the shortage of medication.
Despite this, the NMA expressed frustration with the lack of action by the state government. “Our members cannot continue to work under threat or fear,” Dr. Musa stated, pointing out that the association had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the government, which expired without a satisfactory response.
As a result, the NMA Kano has decided to halt all medical services at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital indefinitely, effective from 12:00 pm on November 6, 2024, until their demands are met.
The NMA’s demands include the immediate removal of the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs from Governor Abba Yusuf’s cabinet, better staffing and resource allocation to reduce the burden on doctors and improve patient care, and increased security measures at the hospital to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients.
The association stressed that this decision was not taken lightly but was necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of medical staff.
