A health worker was harassed and beaten while on duty in Torit Town, Eastern Equatoria State. Kerry Peter Dominic, a clinical officer at Torit State Hospital, was serving patients on Thursday night when the incident occurred.

Police on night patrol brought a sick person to the hospital, but instead of buying the required medication, they demanded immediate attention, preventing the clinical officer from attending to other patients.

When the police returned the next morning and found that the admitted patients had not been attended to, they confronted the health officer. This led to an altercation where they grabbed his clothes, slapped him, and beat him with a wire stick.

Health officials revealed that Torit State Hospital faces shortages of medicines and dressing materials. Patients are often advised to purchase their medications and dressing supplies from nearby clinics and drug stores.

Kerry Peter Dominic, a Clinical Officer at Torit State Hospital and the victim of the incident, recounted the events to Radio Tamazuj, stating that it occurred at 6 AM that morning. He explained that he was harassed and beaten by patrol police officers due to the lack of surgical materials such as plasters, medicines, and grip water at the hospital.

“I was on night duty, and there were soldiers patrolling during the night. Around 9 PM, some people involved in a fight in Hai Kuku were brought to the hospital. They knocked at the door, and I came out, prescribed all the necessary medication, and admitted them to the ward. Since the required medication was unavailable, including plasters, medicines, and grip water, I went to sleep. Today, around 5 AM, the police entered the ward while I was sleeping at the OPD. They began questioning why the prescribed medication had not been administered. Two people approached me, one grabbed my clothes from the front, while the other started slapping me. Meanwhile, another person beat me twice using the wire of the generator,” Dominic explained.

The Administrator at Torit State Hospital, whose name was not disclosed, confirmed the incident and expressed dismay over the brutal attack on a health worker. He highlighted the lack of medicines and essential materials that hinder medication at the hospital.

“The two patients were admitted to the surgical ward. As everyone knows, the hospital is currently facing severe shortages of medicines and essential materials. Most of our patients have to purchase medicine from outside, including surgical materials required for surgery. The policemen were informed to procure these items so that the patients could be assisted. However, when they returned in the morning and found that the two patients had not been attended to, they became upset. They confronted the clinical officer and the situation escalated to the point where they physically assaulted him. The beating was severe, causing damage even to the top layer of the skin. This was a reprehensible act, and none of us are pleased about it,” he stated.

Major General Abdalatif Ali, the Inspector of Police for Torit Central Division, denied reports of any health worker being harassed and beaten but vowed to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable. He emphasized that the primary role of the patrol team is to arrest suspects and bring them to justice, not to subject anyone to torture or harassment.

“No formal complaint has been filed alleging that police personnel on patrol beat a medical officer at the State Hospital. If such an incident did occur, it would be unacceptable because police officers have no authority to resort to violence. Anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will be held accountable under the law. Our role is clear: apprehend criminals and assist those in need of medical attention by taking them to the hospital, but we have no authority to use force against anyone,” he explained.