Nigerian Medical Association: Kano loses 100 doctors in six months

The Nigerian Medical Association has urged Kano state government to declare state of emergency in the health sector to halt the mass exodus of medical practitioners from government hospitals across the state.

The NMA said that the state has witnessed the disengagement of over one hundred medical doctors in the last 6 months.

Briefing newsmen in Kano, Chairman local chapter of NMA, Dr Shehi Ali Abubakar stated that the mass exodus of medical doctors to federal Institution and neighbouring states was brought about by what he described as “systemic decay in the available facilities”.

Abubakar disclosed that a Paediatrics ward at Murtala Muhammad Hospital has been closed down due to lack of manpower, stressing that at present, only 65 doctors attend to patients in a facility adjudged as one of the busiest Government Hospital in the state.

He said; “Murtala Muhammad Hospital,the largest and busiest Government Hospital in the state has less than 65 doctors working within it and it is estimated that with the current exodus rate, less than 40 doctors will be working in this facility by the end of the year”.

The Chairman noted that there was general lack morale among doctors under the employment of the state government, adding that Kano state remained the only state in the north west  region yet to implement CONMESS despite several agreement and undertaking with the medical practitioners.

Abubakar pointed out that the precarious situation in the existing state Government Health facilities has put pressure on the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital originally designated tertiary Institution intended to be a research base facility now handled patients from primary facilities.

While assuring the general of public their readiness to carry on with services to humanity, Abubakar  however, called on Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso led administration to  as a matter of urgency, fix the infrastructure decay and as well commence full implantations of CONMESS to health workers.

When contacted for comments on the issues, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr  AbubakarLabaran Yusuf   told Vanguard that “I am attending a meeting now, and do not want to say anything concerning the position of the NMA”