Another strike action looms in the health sector. This time it is coming from Katsina state, North of Nigeria. The strike threat may not be unconnected to the fact that 30 doctors have recently left the katsina state civil service.
State Chairman of the NMA, Dr. Kabir Suleiman, opened up about the deplorable state of health facilities in Katsina state to newsmen. The People’s Daily puts it succinctly thus;
The chairman further disclosed that manpower in the state health sector has continue to decline where according to him less than 100 doctors and 900 nurses are currently working in the secondary facilities in the state.He noted “this problem is more severe in Daura and Funtua zones where we have fewer hospitals and health workers but high population of patients. This is really a source of worry”.Suleiman added that the findings of the association has revealed that most of the Hospitals are underfunded with many as he said lack basic X- Ray services, emergency drugs, oxygen and dressing materials.The chairman called for the immediate employment of doctors and other health workers based on national guidelines of Doctor-Patients ratio of 1: 600 populations across the state.The association therefore gave the state government a 21 day ultimatum to address their grievances or risk strike action, adding that the union would not accept anything short of the fulfillment of their demands.
EXCERPT BY
Lawal Sa’idu Funtua
Peoples Daily
