Doctors at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Akwa Ibom State have ended their indefinite strike following an apology from Susana Adie, the woman accused of assaulting a doctor at the facility. The strike, which began on Wednesday, was suspended after a meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Akwa Ibom State executive council on Friday. NMA Chairperson Tiemah Akpabio confirmed the decision, stating the strike would officially end at 8 a.m. on Saturday, 5 September.
The industrial action was triggered by an incident on 1 September, when Adie allegedly assaulted house officer Edidiong Ubia while seeking clarification on her medical prescription at the hospital's diabetic unit. In a letter dated 2 September addressed to the President of the Association of Resident Doctors at UUTH, Adie apologised for her conduct, retracted offensive statements made during the altercation, and expressed regret for the incident. She appealed for the apology to prevent lasting tension with the medical profession.
Hospital management also intervened, committing to review safety protocols and establish a committee to recommend measures for protecting health workers. The NMA had previously demanded the identification and prosecution of those responsible within 48 hours and called for improved security at health facilities. This strike marks the second major disruption at UUTH in less than five months. In May, doctors went on strike after Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives arrested a senior hospital official, an action that triggered panic and service disruptions. The EFCC later apologised, leading to the suspension of that strike.
The repeated strikes over assaults at UUTH suggest management's past promises on staff safety have not led to lasting change. If the new committee is to avoid being seen as another temporary fix, its actions must visibly reduce risks for doctors within months.
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