Doctors resigns in Nigerian state due to poor income on HWN SPOTLIGHT

Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Katsina State Branch has raised alarm that 30 doctors left the services of the state government within the last six month due to poor pay.

The state chairman of the association, Dr. Kabir Suleiman raised the alarm, yesterday while addressing newsmen on the deplorable condition of health facilities in the state.

Suleiman added that a number of consultants and specialists have also resigned from the service, disclosing that most of those on ground have threaten to leave by January next year.

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.

Source: WWWN, HWN Africa.