- * Appeals For Urgent Action To Avert Consequencies
- Health Commissioner Says 'Only Nine Doctors Left Our Services'
By David Okpashi (Nasarawa State Correspondent, in Lafia)
Nasarawa state Chapter of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP ) has raised an alarm over imminent collapse of health institutions in Nasarawa state following the ongoing mass resignation of doctors and other health officials as reported by the association of resident doctors.
The party in a statement on Tuesday by its State Chairman, Francis Orogu Tuesday, while reacting to the reported cases of exodus of doctors and other officials in the state health sector, said. "Our attention has been drawn to the exodus of doctors out of the state government owned health facilities across the state due to lack of facilities, poor welfare and incentives due to the health officers.
"The People's Democratic party PDP in Nasarawa state is dismayed by the worrisome news of mass resignation of doctors out of the state government owned health facilities.
"We are not only worried overnthe exodus of doctors out of the state health facilities following government inability to meet the welfare needs of the doctors but also concerned with the effect of the doctors resignation on our citizens", the party Chairman stated.
According to Hon. Orogu, the need for the welfare of the citizens to have medical officers to man the various health institutions should not be sacrificed on account of lack of funds to motivate the health officials in Nasarawa state, adding that urgent measures must be taken to salvage the situation.
"We cannot fold our arms and watch our health facilities go into a dysfunctional state when the option to keep them running maximally exists. There is enough evidence that health facilities might suffer neglect and abandonment to the detriment of our citizens who would be exposed to looming medical challenges as the rains and farming season is about to set in.
The opposition People's Democratic party (PDP) Chairman who expressed concerned over the mass resignation of medical doctors and other health managers in Nasarawa state noted that as a party interested in the wellbeing of its people, exodus of doctors out of the state based on the reasons adduced is totally unacceptable.
"We have observed with dismay that in the past three months, more than 59 medical doctors are reported to have resigned from the services of the Nasarawa state government. We would have ignored the report but when we saw that it came from the president, Nasarawa State Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Yakubu Adeleke, our fears multiplied in unimaginableterms.
"How can a state government allow its doctors to abandon our medical centres on account of poor welfare and lack of facilities? Something urgent must be done to address the unwholesome situation to prevent our people from being exposed.to dire stress in view of the worsening economic situation compounded by the taciturn nature of government service delivery in the state," the statement said.
"If 20 out of the over 59 doctors resigned due to lack of adequate renumeration, non promotion, stagnation for 8 years, one wonders why this was allowed to linger for this long without anticipating the negative implications on our people", Orogu stated.
The government must show willingness and interest in the health needs of our people or be seen to have failed in one of its major responsibilities to the people. Measures must be taken to rescue our health institution from total collapse in Nasarawa state. We must be seen to have the interest of our people as our priority", the statement advised.
The statement which quoted the Nasarawa State President of Resident Doctors, Dr Yakubu Adeleke as saying that they have been reaching out to the state government to take urgent steps towards addressing issues bordering on their welfare to no avail, however stated that the situation is unheard of in a responsible set up.
The party chairman who made reference to the Resident Doctors president, Dr Yakubu Adeleke, wondered why consequential adjustments payment, which is the legitimate earning of the doctors, are not paid .
"There is no gainsaying that the massive resignation of doctors will not only add pressure on the medical system but also cast an unhealthy burden on our citizens. It was reported that over 11 resident doctors resugned from a single department in one week while other doctors are said to be running out of patient and are ready to throw in their towel.
"We call on the authorities and those concerned to wake up and function in acordance to the oath of office they swore to uphold by ensuring that the citizens are provided with the neccesary support to make life more meaningful".
Orogu appealed to the people to remain law abiding in the face of the revealing and shocking situation, noting with dismay that Nasarawa state which used to rank first in the area of health is now a shadow of itself. "We can not continue like that in our dear state" Orogu declared.
He, however, urged the citizens to remain committed to the cause of having Nasarawa state of their dreams.
Reacting to the allegations, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, confirmed that only nine doctors from the state owned Specialist hospital resigned their services from the state government.
According to Dr. Gwamna, the nine doctors who left have been replaced, saying that three of the doctors have joined the federal medical centre in Keffi, while six have opted for residency at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital. He described the situation as a setback for the state owned facilities.
Dr Gwamna explained further that the doctors were in search of greener pastures not because they were stripped of their entitlements as alleged.
"In comparison to the state owned health facilities, the condition of service at the federal level is superior", Gwamna stated.
"We are making strides in improving our healthcare services and by the time we leave in 2027 public hospitals in Nasarawa will be significantly enhanced", the Commissioner declared. NNL.
