Attacks on medical staff at Asante Mampong cripple healthcare delivery

Doctors and nurses at Asante Mampong Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region live in fear, following repeated attacks and threat on their lives by unidentified persons.

A doctor and a midwife are among staff as well as some student nurses who have fallen victims to such ordeal within the last two months.

Authorities are worried the situation is impacting negatively on healthcare delivery, especially when the incidents occur both at work and at home.

Medical Superintendent, Dr. Kwadwo Nyarko-Jectey, told Nhyira FM the Municipal Security Council and police have been made aware of the trend.

He however laments little has been done to improve the situation.

Dr. Nyarko-Jectey recounts a nurse of the hospital was stabbed to death in her house by unknown assailants two years ago.

He said many incidents of burglary have occurred in broad daylight in recent times at the residences of personnel as medical staff are continuously threatened in the open.

According to the Medical Superintendent, the administration is becoming helpless of the situation.

“Talking about the burglary, the latest incident; one was a midwife and another a doctor. It's rather the estate officer he shares the residence with who lost some property,” Dr Nyarko-Jectey revealed.

Besides the burglary incidents, staff have come under barrage of attacks, ranging from threats, verbal and physical attacks to the extent that some are cursed with river deities for no wrong done.

For now, staff members are concerned about their security than how to improve output especially when no one has been prosecuted for the assaults on them.

“Some [staff] are concerned and personally people talk to me and they say they are on the edge. They are more of thinking about their security than anything else,” Dr. Nyarko-Jectey lamented.

Municipal Chief Executive, Mohammed Aboasu, said he is unaware of the burglary and attacks on the medical staff.

He, however, concedes the report of attacks on some student nurses, is receiving attention by the Municipal Security Council.