KATH Doctors and Nurses beaten by zongo youth

• Posted on February 14, 2014February 14, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

SCORES OF medical doctors and nurses at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on Thursday morning suffered merciless brutalities in the hands of some rampaging Zongo youth who stormed the hospital.

The agitated-looking Zongo youth, wielding deadly weapons, had stormed the hospital to demand the remains of Suwaibatu Abdul Mumin, whose delivery at the hospital resulted in still-birth.

A reliable source at the hospital told DAILY GUIDE that Dr Frank Ankobea, the Ashanti Regional Ghana Medical Association’s president, also suffered the attack.

Dr Ankobea was said to have been busily attending to patients at the ward when the Zongo youth suddenly pounced on him around 9:00 am. He was reportedly hit from all directions by his blood-thirsty attackers.

The GMA President had to flee away to avoid being beaten further by his angry attackers.

The management of KATH has not been able to produce the remains barely one-week after Suwaibatu’s delivery.

The case which is being investigated by the police is rumoured to have compelled the angry Zongo youth to attack the hospital.

What initially started as a peaceful-demonstration suddenly turned bloody as the irate-looking Zongo youth started attacking people at the medical facility violently.

Amid war songs, the Zongo youth, who turned out in large numbers, reportedly, beat up any KATH staff on sight, forcing the fear-stricken doctors and nurses to run helter-skelter for their lives.

Within minutes, the youth virtually took over the labour ward of the hospital, creating chaos. This sent shivers down the spine of KATH staff and patients on admission at the hospital.
PATIENTS CHASED
Some unfortunate patients who accidentally crossed the path of the rampaging Zongo youth also suffered some injuries as they were hit with sticks and other deadly weapons.

Sensing danger, the hapless patients, including those on admission at the hospital, took to their heels leaving behind bags, mobile phones and documents containing their medical history.

Nursing mothers who had delivered safely at the KATH ward the previous night were also compelled to flee with their babies in order to avert being attacked violently.

During the invasion of the place, the rampaging Zongo youth also destroyed medical equipment, tables and chairs at the labour ward of the hospital, the paper gathered.

Most of the attackers vented their spleen on the medical equipment at the facility after the KATH medical doctors and nurses had escaped.

 
POLICE ARRESTS
It took the intervention of armed policemen, called to the scene by the KATH management to contain the Zongo youth.

The police, reportedly, had to put in extra effort before they could stop the Zongo youth from further causing injuries to people.

The police managed to arrest three men, who were said to be part of the violent attack at the hospital; the others however, escaped arrest.
STRIKE
Meanwhile, the paper has learnt that doctors and nurses at the hospital have threatened to embark on industrial action following the violent attack.
DAILY GUIDE‘s attempt to contact officials of the hospital, proved futile, as the hospital’s management were said to have been engaged in a crisis meeting over the issue.

 Meanwhile, armed policemen have been deployed to provide adequate security at KATH

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi