Nigeria Orders Nationwide Measures to Protect Health Workers

The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed the immediate implementation of nationwide measures to protect health workers. Offenders who intimidate, harass or assault health workers will be investigated and prosecuted under existing laws.

The order follows a report from a Ministerial Committee on the Harassment of Health Workers by Security Personnel, set up after an incident at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Akwa Ibom State involving Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives and hospital staff. The committee recorded 18 cases of assault, intimidation or harassment across federal tertiary health institutions in the previous twelve months, involving patients, relatives, members of the public and security personnel. Consequences included bodily injury, psychological trauma, property damage, service disruption and industrial action.

Key factors identified were poor communication, long waiting times, inadequate staffing, weak infrastructure, emotional distress, abuse of authority and lack of clear security protocols. Coordinating Minister of Health Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate accepted the recommendations, and Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom signed the directive, emphasizing that health workers must work in a safe, secure environment.