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Protest At Ondo Hospital As Psychiatric Patient Beats Chief Medical Director Into A Coma

Olawale, who damaged the medical equipment at the hospital, also beat up the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Akinwumi Akinloye, into a coma.

There was commotion at the Neuro Psychiatric Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday, as Folorunsho Olawale, a psychiatric patient, went berserk and attacked some nurses on duty.

Olawale, who damaged the medical equipment at the hospital, also beat up the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Akinwumi Akinloye, into a coma.

Not less than four nurses, including a consultant, Dr. Sunday Sajo, and medical workers at the hospital, were injured during the rampage.

SaharaReporters learnt that the mentally-sick patient, who had been at the psychiatric hospital for two weeks, was brought to the facility by the Police for re-examination.  

It was gathered that Olawale had walked into a police station in Akure to confess being among those who murdered Khadijat Oluboyo, daughter of ex-Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lasisi Oluboyo. 

A source revealed that this prompted police authorities to move the "mentally derailed" boy to a psychiatric hospital as part of the ongoing investigation in the murder Khadijat.

It was learned that trouble started inside the psychiatric hospital when Olawale became aggressive on the bed, and some of the nurses tried to administer injection on him. 

One of the nurses, who pleaded not to be named, said Olawale became charged and over-powered everyone inside the hospital, as he began to destroy medical facilities.

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"Immediately he became uncontrollable for us, we sent a message to Permanent Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, who rushed down to the hospital,” the nurse said.

"And instead of the PS to calm all of us down with good words and also address the issue and challenges in the hospital's facility, he ordered us back to our various duty posts in the unsafe environment.”

She added that the nurses decided to embark on demonstration to show their grievances towards the unpleasant working conditions and their safety at the psychiatric hospital.

"So, we have protested and vowed never to resume to our duty posts because the PS, Dr. Ikuomola, does not even care about our safety here,” she added.

"As a point of contact, we want him to know that sending us back to our duty post will never solve the crisis of adequate welfare and safety in this hospital for nurses.”

Opeyemi Oloniyo, leader of the Joint Negotiating Council at the hospital, condemned the attack on nurses and medical workers of the facility, and berated the attitude of the PS, saying: "I heard about the attack on some nurses, doctors and other medical workers in the hospital and we have come to pacify them to go back to their duty as we address the issue.  

"However, it is very unfortunate that the PS could come here with an 'order' that the workers should resume their work without a soothing tone, which could have addressed the issue at hand. 

"Thanks to God, nobody lost his life in the attack, else this is not what we would be saying. We want to state it clearly that enough is enough and nobody should threaten the medical staff here with sanction.”

Reacting, Dr. Ikuomola denied not listening to all the grievances of the protesting nurse and medical staff, saying the union leader who got to the scene to pacify the nurses was only instigating them against the state government. 

Femi Joseph, Spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command confirmed the attack, telling SaharaReporters on the phone: "We moved him to the psychiatric hospital to under study him after he showed up at the police station to report himself as being involved in the killing of late Khadijat.”

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PUBLIC HEALTH