The Association of Resident Doctors of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria Chapter on Friday painted a graphic details of the deterioration of one of the nation’s premier tertiary health centre, urging the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly to quickly save the situation.
A delegation from the Association led by its President, Dr. Waziri Aliyu, which briefed the Senate Committee on Health in Abuja, listed numerous challenges ranging from dilapidated infrastructure to security concerns facing ABUTH.
Aliyu also pointed out the lack of environmental sanitation and necessary facilities at the hospital, citing an incident where a member of the association suffered a snake bite but could not get prompt medical attention and a situation where the Labour Ward’s sewages are currently leaking.
He added that the Haematology Department of the Teaching Hospital cannot provide blood component for a patient, saying that the development was “very sad. As simple as xray is, we have been having problem with it.”
Aliyu further revealed that the premises of the ABUTH is not completely fenced, hence trespass by intruders and attacks on House Officers on two occasions.
He complained of lack of adequate accommodation and opportunity of Residency Training as various units of the health institution lack adequate personnel, a situation that has led to the over stressing of the remaining workforce even without motivation.
According to Aliyu, part of their grouses with the hospital management include alleged illegal sack of 19 personnel and non-intake of Resident Doctors since 2012 as many people have left the hospital services over time without replacements.
He added that ABUTH personnel earn less than their contemporaries in other Teaching Hospitals across the country.
Aliyu informed Senate Committee that the Resident Doctors had already given the ABUTH management an ultimatum and that by next week Monday they will commence a warning strike
“As simple as cotton wool and spirit, we ask the patients to provide. It is as bad as that,” he added.
Responding, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, directed the association to submit a comprehensive report on their demands and grievances
“We will make sure that when your budget comes (2017), we will make sure that we take care of your demands,” he said.
For his part, Senator Shehu Sani warned that if the country’s teaching hospitals cannot get the attention they deserve, Nigeria will fall short of its health targets.
