Two female doctors were raped at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) when armed robbers invaded the health care centre, Chairman of Resident Doctors Association at the hospital, Dr Ikechukwu Ukweh said.
Addressing journalists, he said that was one of the reasons they embarked on an indefinite strike. He said the strike was to demand payment of salaries, training entitlements as well as upgrade of facilities.
Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Thomas Agan, who said efforts were being made to resolve the industrial action, said it was one doctor that was raped.
“I got to know about the armed robbery incident recently. You see, this hospital sits on 4.316 hectares
of land, and part of the perimeter fence has collapsed. It is therefore very difficult for our hospital security to effectively police the premises. This makes the hospital very porous and vulnerable. Recently too, two cars belonging to a doctor and a nurse were stolen within the premises of the hospital. Even patients have had to escape through the broken fences. I appeal to all to see security as everyone’s business even as I plead with the federal government to release funds meant for us to defray debts and tackle this challenging security issue”, he said.
Agan said the challenges were not peculiar to UCTH. He assured that the management was working very hard to ensure that the strike is called off within the week.