Daily Independent Online.
*
Friday, June 11, 2004.
Patients flee hospitals in Asaba, Bauchi
By Tunke-Aye Bisina,
Asaba
and Godwin Egbara,
Bauchi
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike against hike
in fuel prices hit harder in Asaba and Bauchi as patients who were admitted at
the Federal Medical Centres have all fled the hospitals to forestall problem of
non-availability of medical staff to attend to them.
Daily Independent gathered that all the patients that
were admitted at the hospitals took to their heels and left for private clinics
on the eve of the strike knowing that there would not be any medical staff to
attend to them.
Their
fears were, however, confirmed, as no staff was available at the Asaba hospital
premises on Thursday when Daily Independent visited the place except the
security personnel at the gate.
It was
learnt that all the nurses and medical doctors including the management of the
hospital have all stayed away from work since the commencement of the strike.
According to investigation, two patients were, however, still
lying unattended to at the hospital. Attempts to get the management to comment
on the situation were unsuccessful as none of the staff was available.
Patients at the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital have
equally deserted the hospital as nurses and other health workers joined the
strike.
One of the patients who spoke to Daily
Independent, Mallam
Yusuf Mohammed, from the Male Surgery Ward said as nurses joined their
colleague on strike, there was no need for him to remain in the hospital, as
there was nobody to attend to them.
Yusuf added that although he had no money, he would
have to look for money to enable him attend a private clinic. Although some
children were attended to at the hospital’s Pediatric Ward, majority of
them have been discharged. Hajia Benta, whose daughter, Hauwa, had serious
burnt injury noted that she has nowhere to go as she could not afford the
exorbitant fees charged by private clinics.
Benta explained that members of Red Cross and
non-governmental organisations have been assisting them as they occasionally
come to the ward to attend to them. At the outpatient department, there were no
patients, as the place was completely deserted.
However, one of the Pharmacy window was opened when Daily
Independent visited
the hospital.
The Acting Chief Medical Director, Dr. Bako Mohammed,
explained that doctors and pharmacists were on duty because they do not
belonged to NLC.
Bako explained that non-governmental organisations, like the Red Cross,
Federation of Muslim Women Association, have been of assistance to the
hospital.
As workers continued to shun offices, banks in the
state also closed their doors to customers. At First Bank Plc., customers
waited endlessly as the main entrance was shut against them.
However, transporters and markets were having a fill
day as commercial activities were in full swing.
Likewise inter state vehicles moved from one
destination to another unhindered
