The Association of Resident Doctors, Delta State University Teaching Hospital (ARD DELSUTH), has threatened an indefinite strike from Friday, August 14, 2026, if authorities fail to take satisfactory action over the alleged assault of one of its members in Oghara.
The doctors issued the ultimatum following the physical assault of Dr. Austin Izah, a Resident Doctor in the Department of Ophthalmology, who was allegedly attacked within Oghara on Thursday, July 30.
More than a week after the incident, the association said those allegedly responsible had yet to be apprehended or prosecuted despite engagements and formal communications with relevant authorities and stakeholders.
In a statement issued after an emergency congress held on Monday, August 10, the association said the incident had heightened concerns over the safety of healthcare workers living and working around the teaching hospital.
The statement was signed by the President of ARD DELSUTH, Dr. Aghogho Isaac; General Secretary, Dr. Ogochuku Nwachuku; and Public Relations Officer, Dr. Asogwa Chijioke.
According to the association, the assault was particularly troubling because it allegedly formed part of a broader pattern of harassment, intimidation and hostility experienced by some of its members within the host community.
ARD DELSUTH said the situation was affecting the sense of security and morale of doctors and other healthcare professionals who had relocated from their respective communities to Oghara to provide medical services.
The association warned that DELSUTH’s development could be undermined if its workforce continued to feel unsafe in the environment where they live and work.
It argued that while infrastructure and medical equipment were important to the growth of the teaching hospital, the retention and effectiveness of doctors, nurses and other health professionals also depended on their ability to live and work in a secure environment.
“DELSUTH cannot attain its enormous potential through infrastructure and equipment alone,” the association said, stressing that its human resources must also feel safe enough to live, work and raise their families within the environment.
The doctors further expressed concern that the alleged security challenges were coming at a time when the teaching hospital needed stability, manpower retention and improved confidence to strengthen its services.
Following deliberations at the emergency congress, the association demanded the immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of those allegedly responsible for the assault.
It also demanded appropriate compensation for Dr. Izah and the association over what it described as the mental, emotional and financial burden arising from the incident.
In addition, ARD DELSUTH called for a formal engagement involving the hospital management, Oghara community leadership, security agencies and the association to address what it described as recurring security concerns and develop measures to prevent similar incidents.
The association gave Thursday, August 13, as the deadline for satisfactory action on its demands.
It warned that failure to meet the demands by the deadline would trigger an indefinite strike by its members beginning Friday, August 14.
ARD DELSUTH also appealed to the Delta State Government, security agencies, traditional and community leaders, the Nigerian Medical Association, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to intervene.
The doctors urged the leadership and people of Oghara to address conduct that, according to the association, was creating an increasingly hostile perception of the community among healthcare workers.
The association, however, stressed that it was not seeking confrontation with the host community but wanted an environment where healthcare professionals could live and provide medical services without harassment, intimidation or assault.
It said the future of DELSUTH was closely connected to the relationship between the teaching hospital and its host environment, warning that continued insecurity could undermine efforts to build a strong and sustainable healthcare institution.
“Our members came to Oghara to save lives, not to live in fear,” the association said.
