The Federal Government has directed the immediate rollout of new measures to improve the safety and security of health workers across the country following an increase in cases of harassment, intimidation and physical attacks in health facilities.
The directive followed the submission of the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel, according to a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms Daju Kachollom.
The committee was inaugurated on 19 May after an incident involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State.
According to the statement, the confrontation disrupted hospital services and led to industrial action, prompting the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances and develop measures to stop similar incidents across the country.
The committee consulted federal tertiary health institutions as well as professional associations, regulatory agencies, security organisations and human rights groups before submitting its recommendations.
Its findings showed that the incident in Uyo reflected a wider pattern. A total of 18 cases involving assault, intimidation or harassment were recorded in federal tertiary hospitals over the past year.
The reported incidents involved patients, their relatives, members of the public and security personnel. They resulted in physical injuries, psychological trauma, destruction of hospital property and interruptions to healthcare services.
The committee also identified several factors driving the problem, including poor communication, long waiting times, inadequate staffing, poor infrastructure, emotional stress, abuse of authority and weak security procedures within hospitals.
After reviewing the report, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, approved its recommendations and directed that they be implemented immediately alongside an action plan.
Pate said, ‘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.’
He warned that anyone found assaulting, threatening, intimidating or harassing health workers would face investigation and prosecution wherever sufficient evidence exists.
The minister stressed that although there is no law dealing exclusively with violence against health workers, offenders could still be prosecuted under existing criminal, civil and administrative laws.
He added, ‘The absence of a specific law relating solely to violence against health workers would not prevent enforcement through existing criminal, civil or administrative laws, including applicable sanctions and compensation.
‘Federal Tertiary Health Institutions have been directed to strengthen internal security arrangements and establish Violence Prevention Teams to improve safety within health facilities nationwide’.
As part of the new measures, hospitals have been instructed to tighten access control, strengthen surveillance systems, improve visitor identification procedures and enhance security around emergency departments and other sensitive units.
Each institution is also required to appoint liaison officers to work with law enforcement agencies while ensuring security operations do not disrupt patient care or hospital services.
The ministry directed hospitals to promptly report, investigate and document every case of assault, threat or harassment. It also said affected staff should receive institutional support and be referred for appropriate assistance where necessary.
Hospital managements have further been asked to strengthen complaint resolution systems, improve communication with patients and provide staff training in conflict prevention and de-escalation.
Kachollom said broader policy proposals from the committee would be presented to the National Council on Health for consideration as part of efforts to establish a nationwide framework covering federal, state and private health facilities.
She said the ministry would monitor compliance with the new directives through regular progress reports submitted to the Coordinating Minister.
Kachollom reaffirmed the government’s position, saying, ‘The Federal Government affirms that no grievance, disagreement or official assignment constitutes lawful justification for violence against a health worker or interference with the delivery of healthcare.’
She added that authorities would enforce existing laws, ensure offenders are held accountable and take all lawful steps to protect health workers, secure hospitals and guarantee uninterrupted healthcare services.