A medical officer and a nurse of the Effia-Nkwanta Government Hospital in Sekondi turned their ward into a boxing arena over what might be termed "occupational dispute". In the end, both were bruised and ended up at the casualty ward for treatment. Thirty-year-old Dr. Francis Ibrahim Benpodzi and Sarah Arthur, the nurse, fought twice last Tuesday over an alleged noise-making at the ward. Ms Arthur, 51, told the Times at the casualty ward that she and three other nurses were on duty at the General Medical Unit Ward where Dr. Benpodzi also works. "At about 1.30pm, an elderly woman walked into the ward for medical check-up," she said. According to Ms Arthur, the old woman, on being asked whether she was accompanied to the hospital replied: "I came with God and God will take me back home after my treatment." Asked about her age she said she was 20. These answers, Ms Arthur said, drew spontaneous laughter among the nurses. She said Dr. Benpodzi on hearing the laughter, emerged from his consulting room very furious, claiming that the nurses were laughing at him. Ms Arthur said when she tried to explain that the laughter was not about him, Dr. Benpodzi got offended and warned that if she, in particular, did not stop laughing, he "will beat me." Ms Arthur said when she replied that he could not beat her for laughing, Dr. Benpodzi pounced on her. That resulted in a fierce fight. Ms Arthur said other nurses, a female doctor and a security man intervened and separated them. Ms Arthur said she went out to report the incident to the hospital administration but Dr. Benpodzi followed her up the staircase and beat her again. "In self defence, I bit his chest so hard that he freed me from his grip," she narrated. "Both of us were then sent to the casualty ward for treatment. I am feeling pains all over my body," Ms Arthur complained. She said she eventually lodged complaints to the hospital authorities and the police. Explaining his action, Dr. Benpodzi said the four nurses were fond of conversing and laughing on duty, thus keeping the patients waiting unduly. He said he had warned them on many occasions but they would not change their "bad working attitude." Asked why he did not report their conduct to their superior officers but rather decided to take the law into his own hands, Dr. Benpodzi alleged that it was Ms Arthur who first slapped him and that provoked him to retaliate. One of the nurses, who was an eye-witness, corroborated Ms Arthur's version and denied that they were fond of conversing thereby delaying patients. An official of the hospital said the authorities were trying to withdraw the case from the police to be treated "administratively." Meanwhile, nurses at the hospital have resolved not to work with Dr. Benpodzi. Source: Times