The Minister of Public Health, Dr Malachie Manaouda has ordered the opening of an investigations following the assault on medical practitioners last week by family members of patients.

Two separate incidents last week in which doctors are said to have been physically assaulted by relatives of patients.

The first incident occurred on September 21 at the COVID-19 centre situated at the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex when a young medical practitioner, Dr Towa was attacked by a woman and her children until she went unconscious and was given a 45-day bed rest.

The second attack occurred just a few days later, on September 24, when the Director of the Yaounde Central Hospital, Professor Pierre Joseph Fouda was attacked within the premises of the health facility by family members of a patient, Hilaire Ayissi Mengue. The family is said to have been blaming the Yaounde Central Hospital for the death of the young man though the health facility has since refuted the claims, explaining the circumstances under which the patient was brought.

Reacting to the incidents, the Minister of Public Health described them as unacceptable and ordered investigations to be opened.

“Following the incident that occurred on 24/9/2021 at the Yaounde Central Hospital, I have just instructed an investigation to get those responsible for the violence. Assaulting health personnel these days is unacceptable because there are other means of recourse,”the Minister of Public Health tweeted.