Assault : Kano Hospitals Board Bans Male Relatives from Labour Rooms
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO – The Kano State Hospitals Management Board (HMB), on Wednesday announced a ban on male relatives from entering labour rooms in public health facilities across the state, citing concerns over patient dignity, safety, and the protection of healthcare workers.
The decision was sequel to the outcome of a dialogue between the Board and the Kano State chapter of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP).
The meeting was against the backdrop of recent incidents involving the assault of two medical doctors at Waziri Shehu Gidado General Hospital, which sparked widespread concern within the medical community.
The Board said the new measure forms part of broader efforts to prevent hospital violence and ensure a safe working environment for health personnel.
Speaking during the engagement, the Executive Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, said the restriction was necessary to safeguard the privacy and dignity of women in labour, as well as to reduce interference during critical medical procedures.
He said “Labour rooms are sensitive clinical areas that require strict control to ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare providers”.
Dr. Nagoda added that the presence of unauthorized persons in labour rooms has, in some cases, contributed to tension and confrontations between hospital staff and patients’ relatives.
According to him, the Board is determined to eliminate conditions that could lead to further assaults on health workers.
Earlier, the Chairman of NAGGMDP in Kano State, Dr. Naziru Nuhu, commended the Board for what he described as a timely and decisive response to the recent attacks on doctors. “We appreciate the swift intervention of the Hospitals Management Board and its willingness to engage in dialogue to prevent a recurrence of such unfortunate incidents,” he said.
The Board also used the occasion to issue a strong warning to members of the public, particularly patients’ relatives, stressing that any future assault on health workers would attract immediate legal action.
“The era of accepting verbal or written apologies is over. Any offender will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the Board stated.
In addition to the labour room restriction, the Hospitals Management Board reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward violence in health facilities, noting that while previous cases had been resolved through dialogue, continued incidents necessitated firmer measures.
The Board said it would continue to work closely with professional bodies such as NAGGMDP and other stakeholders to promote professionalism, mutual respect, and improved healthcare delivery across Kano State, urging the public to cooperate with hospital authorities in the interest of safety and quality care.