By Prosper Mene
The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) was thrown into chaos on Monday as over 200 nurses staged a protest, barricading the hospital’s main gate and halting vehicular movement. The demonstration was sparked by the arrest of three nurses, identified as Joy, Mary, and Deborah by the Nigeria Police Force following the death of a patient and the alleged theft of the deceased’s SIM card.
The incident began when a patient, brought to the hospital by an unidentified Good Samaritan, died during the night. According to reports, the nurses failed to record the Good Samaritan’s details, a lapse deemed unethical by some observers. When the patient’s relatives arrived, they discovered the missing SIM card and demanded information about the Good Samaritan. Unable to provide answers, the nurses faced accusations of theft, leading to their arrest.
Outraged by what they called an “unfair” and “humiliating” detention, nurses marched to the Cross River State Police Command, demanding the immediate release of their colleagues. The protest disrupted medical services, leaving patients unable to access treatment and causing tension at the facility. In one reported incident, protesting nurses allegedly assaulted a visitor attempting to enter the hospital morgue.
The UCTH chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives condemned the arrests, describing the police’s actions as “unlawful” and “dehumanizing.” They called for a full investigation into the conduct of the officers involved and the unconditional release of the detained nurses.
Efforts to obtain a response from UCTH management were unsuccessful, as the chief medical director’s office did not respond to inquiries. The hospital’s silence has fueled frustration among staff, with one nurse, speaking anonymously, expressing dismay at the administration’s failure to address the issue before it escalated.
The protest has raised questions about hospital protocols for patient admission and the treatment of healthcare workers in Nigeria.The public awaits further developments on the nurses’ release and the investigation into the patient’s death
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