The Nasarawa State Chapter of the opposition, People’s Democratic Party (PDP ), yesterday raised an alarm over imminent collapse of health sector in Nasarawa State as over 59 resident doctors and health officials in the state are laying down their tools.
Mr. Francis Orogu, raise the alarm in a statement while reacting to reported cases of exodus of doctors and other officials in the state health sector, reports Daily Independent.
He said that the attention of the party 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 to the health officers.
“People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Nasarawa State is dismayed with the worrisome news of mass resignation of doctors out of the state government owned health facilities.
“We are not only worried over 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 urgently 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 family season is about to set in.”
The PDP chairman who expressed concern over the mass resignation of medical doctors and other health managers in Nasarawa state noted that as a party they are interested in the wellbeing of its people, exodus of doctors out of the state based on the reasons adduced is totally unacceptable.
The party 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.
The statement further read, “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 stated.
“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. “
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, said 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 .
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 cannot continue like in our dear state” Orogu declared.
He, however, urged the citizens to be committed to the cause of having Nasarawa State of their dreams.
