Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Lagos State Government has warned that anyone who assaults health workers in hospitals across the state will face prosecution and possible imprisonment, declaring that violence against doctors, nurses and other medical personnel will not be tolerated.
The warning was issued on Friday by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Anjous-Ademuyiwa, during the maiden stakeholders’ meeting of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Epe.
The meeting, themed “Making FMC Epe Work for All: A Shared Responsibility for Building Trust, Improving Service and Enhancing Patient Care,” marked one year since the facility transitioned from a Lagos State General Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre.
Anjous-Ademuyiwa described the safety of healthcare workers as non-negotiable, stressing that anyone who attacks medical personnel should expect the full weight of the law.
“Safety is paramount in our hospitals and every government facility. Health workers must be protected at all costs.”
She added:
“The moment you lay your hands on somebody and cause harm, you should be ready to face the law. It doesn’t matter who you are. If you are hurting people or endangering lives, you are going to jail. There can be no compromise on that.”
While acknowledging complaints about the attitude of some healthcare workers, the permanent secretary said respect and accountability must be mutual between patients and medical personnel.
She noted that many doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals continue to work under intense pressure due to inadequate staffing and appealed to patients and their relatives to remain calm and avoid violence in health facilities.
“Patients should be valued and respected, and we will continue to improve the attitude of our staff. But patients also have responsibilities. They must be accountable for their actions while in hospital premises.”
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