The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) officially launched a collaborative initiative today aimed at systematically documenting and combating the rising wave of violence against healthcare workers and facilities across Nigeria.
The event titled “ICRC-NMA Meeting on the Protection of Healthcare in Nigeria: Sensitization and Data Engagement for Evidence-Based Action,” held in Abuja, brought together NMA national officers and state branch secretaries to strengthen reporting mechanisms and build a robust evidence base for advocacy.
In his opening remarks, the NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, represented by the Second Vice President, Dr. Ushakuma Anenga, while welcoming participants, highlighted the gravity of the crisis the Nigeria healthcare faces.
“Violence against health facilities, attacks on medical personnel, intimidation, disruptions, and assaults are prevalent, even more so in the northern part of the country. Continuous provision of healthcare is under threat.” He said.
He described the new Healthcare in Danger data system as an objective tool that will capture incidents on the ground, provide clear evidence, and enable targeted interventions.
Dr. Anenga urged the state secretaries – whom he called “the engine room of the association” to lead with commitment and ensure timely reporting.
Delivering his speech, the NMA Secretary-General, Mr. Ben Egbo, also emphasized the urgency of the initiative, noting that violence against health workers has become one of the most acute issues facing the medical profession in Nigeria.
“Where are the statistics? How do you convince policymakers that this is actually happening?” he asked.
Mr. Egbo also cited a recent case in which a female doctor was severely beaten inside a hospital premises, triggering a strike by resident doctors until the perpetrator was arrested and charged to court.
“That case must proceed to a logical conclusion to serve as a deterrent,” he stressed, adding that health workers risk their lives daily only to face molestation from the very people they serve.
He pledged the full support of his office and secretarial staff in collating data from all states to ensure the project’s success.
The Deputy Head of Delegation, ICRC, Mr. James Matthews, emphasised that far too many incidents of violence against healthcare remain undocumented, thereby limiting advocacy efforts.
“Every day, health professionals and facilities are confronted with incidents that hinder their ability to deliver life-saving services,” Mr. Matthews said.
According to him, “Today’s meeting aims to build a unified and systematic approach to reporting, enabling reliable data, stronger analysis, and evidence based action.”
He commended the NMA leadership and branch secretaries for their essential role and assured participants of ICRC’s continued technical support and tools to make the reporting system effective.
At the one-day event concluded with a commitment from both organisations to sustain the partnership and roll out the data system nationwide, with NMA state branches serving as the primary reporting points.
Meanwhile, participants described the engagement as a critical step toward protecting Nigeria’s healthcare workers and ensuring that attacks do not go unnoticed or unaddressed.
