The management of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital OOUTH Sagamu Ogun State has firmly denied allegations that it compelled nurses to carry out cleaning and sanitation duties during the ongoing national strike by the Joint Health Sector Union JOHESU

The controversy began after a statement attributed to a group known as the Elegant Nurses Forum circulated online accusing some public hospitals including OOUTH of directing nurses to assume the responsibilities of cleaners who had withdrawn their services as part of the JOHESU industrial action The statement signed by an individual identified as Abiodun Thomas alleged that nurses were being made to sweep mop and perform other janitorial tasks in addition to their clinical duties

The forum condemned the alleged practice as highly unethical unlawful and professionally degrading It argued that assigning cleaning duties to nurses undermines the integrity of the nursing profession and violates established professional boundaries The group also claimed that nurses in some facilities were facing intimidation and threats for refusing to comply with such instructions

In response OOUTH issued a detailed rebuttal through its Public Relations Department dismissing the allegations as unsubstantiated baseless and a figment of the writer’s imagination The hospital said the claims had been amplified by some online platforms and blogs without any attempt at verification

The hospital’s statement stressed that at no time had any category of staff whether medical or non medical been pressured instructed or compelled to perform duties outside the scope of their professional cadre According to the management the hospital operates on clearly defined job descriptions and professional boundaries which are not altered even in periods of industrial unrest

The management emphasised that nurses at OOUTH are regarded as critical professionals within the healthcare team and are treated with the dignity and respect their role demands It insisted that the hospital had not engaged in any form of coercion or intimidation to force nurses into taking over the work of striking cleaners

The statement noted that while the JOHESU strike had created operational challenges across many public health institutions OOUTH had chosen to respond through internal reorganisation and contingency planning rather than by violating professional ethics The hospital maintained that its approach to managing the impact of the strike was guided by respect for staff welfare adherence to labour regulations and commitment to patient safety

The management further assured the public that hospital operations continue to be conducted with professionalism and strict observance of ethical standards It highlighted teamwork and staff welfare as top priorities and reiterated that no medical personnel at the hospital had been compelled to undertake duties beyond their professional responsibilities or contrary to established practice

Providing additional clarification the Acting Director of Nursing Services at OOUTH Mrs Folasade Fawole affirmed that nurses at the institution had not been subjected to unconducive working conditions She acknowledged that individual nurses might occasionally take personal initiative to keep their immediate workspaces tidy but stressed that such actions were voluntary and not part of their official job description

Fawole explained that the cleaning of wards clinics and general hospital areas remains the responsibility of designated environmental and sanitation staff She insisted that at no time had nurses been ordered to assume those roles even during the JOHESU strike She described the allegations circulating online as misleading and capable of creating unnecessary tension between nurses and hospital management

The hospital’s leadership expressed concern that the publication of the Elegant Nurses Forum’s claims without verification could damage the reputation of OOUTH and erode public confidence in the institution The management urged media organisations and commentators to exercise greater caution and to seek clarification before publishing allegations that touch on sensitive professional and labour issues

OOUTH also used the opportunity to restate its broader commitment to maintaining high standards of patient care and a conducive working environment for all categories of staff The hospital said it continues to engage relevant authorities unions and stakeholders to address challenges arising from the JOHESU strike and to ensure that service delivery remains within ethical and professional boundaries

According to the management the hospital’s priority is to balance the rights and welfare of its workforce with the obligation to provide safe and effective care to patients It pledged to keep communication channels open with staff representatives and regulatory bodies in order to promptly address any grievances or misunderstandings