Ruth Semilore
The Chief Medical Director of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Professor John Okeniyi, has pledged to remove beds placed in several offices within the hospital to combat sexual harassment of female staff.
Speaking to journalists during a progress report on his one-year administration, Professor Okeniyi highlighted that the presence of beds in hospital offices could potentially provoke sexual advances, making it necessary to eliminate them.
He also emphasized that the institution now has a strict anti-sexual harassment policy in place, warning that ignorance of the law will not be tolerated as an excuse for misconduct.
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He said;
“The laws are clear, which we have brought to the fore for the notice of the people, ‘thou shall not sexually harass’. So ignorance can no longer be a defence, now you all know and if anybody does that, the next step is a deterrent with punishment. If anybody does that, we will punish him and will not sweep it under the carpet.
“Once we start punishing people, others will be exposed subsequently, there will be a wall of shame on the Internet for it. It will be there for your friends, children, and spouse to see forever.
“For those who cannot control their libido, they will have the law to contend with. Besides that, we will remove beds from offices being used under the guise of night shift. Having beds in offices could provoke sexual harassment. From now, I will personally supervise the removal of beds from offices. The night shift is not meant for sleeping but for people to do their job and leave.
“I have also empowered servicom people to say something, people are groaning from sexual harassment. Now they know that if they talk, there is a listening ear and action would be taken”.
