YOUR LETTERS
State of healthcare in Niger
The National Democratic Forum has viewed the on-going democratic process in Niger state in the last five years, with mixed feelings. While the forum will not deny the fact that the Abdulkadir Kure government has recorded success in the area of staff welfare for the state civil service and in its rural electrification scheme, the people are yet to benefit any dividend in the health sector.
Today, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government in the state has succeeded in disappointing the electorates. Of all the sectors, the health institutions and health care delivery are better described as non-existence.
The forum viewed with sadness the condition of the state public hospitals, which have deteriorated by over 500 percent from the standard in 1999. Non of the state General Hospitals can stand the test of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for ideal dispensary centre.
The irony of it is that the number two-man in the government of Niger state from 1999 till date, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the ministry of health since 1999 but to date nothing has changed. His appointment as health commissioner by Governor Abdulkadir Kure was applauded by all in 1999 but today his ministry is rated among the worst. One wonders what will be his account of stewardship come 2007.
The situation on ground in all our public health institutions can not measure up to the huge budgetary allocation to the sector in the last five years.
The Emir of Suleja Mallam Awwal Ibrahim, came to the rescue of the Suleja General Hospital, by constructing a ward. The Suleja General Hospital is one of the worst.
Unlike in the past when both the high and the low go to the General Hospitals, today private hospitals are fast taking over from the public ones. The questions in the minds of the people are: Is it that Governor Abdulkadir Kure is refusing to fund the health sector? Is it that the Commissioner for Health, who is also the deputy governor has no plan to revamp the health sector despite the fact that he is a Pharmacist? Is it true that the governor deliberately refuse to give his deputy free hand to run the ministry?
For the people of Bida, how soon will the dividend of democracy get to them since in the last three years, the township General Hospital has been under construction. When will the ministry of Health complete this project?
For the benefit of doubt, the forum will appreciate the Deputy Governor, if he can sponsor a 30-minute docu-mentary on the achievements of his Ministry on NT A Minna, as his counterpart in the ministry of Transport did recently.
I will advice Dr. Nuhu to forget his 2007 governorship ambition. A man who can not effectively manage a ministry, cannot be entrusted with the whole state. We are wiser and ready to shine our eyes in 2007.
If Governor Kure and the state House of Assembly have over the years appropriated funds to the health sector, as indicated in all the appropriation bills of the state, it is high time for the Governor to have a rethink on how to salvage the health sector by adopting the following. Overhaul the ministry of health. The House Committee on Health should carry out its oversight function of visiting the hospitals with a view to assessing the level of implementation of the votes allocated to these health institutions.
Appoint another young person to head the ministry. Such a person should not be encumbered by the work -load of the office of a deputy governor.
Put in place a comprehensive and prag-matic health policy, with a focus on preventive health care delivery. If this administration will not betray the confidence the people had in 1999 and 2003 by addressing all the issues raised, I doubt if our democracy in Niger state is worth its salt.
Mr. Jonathan T. Vatsa National Chairman, NDF Bata Building Opp. Intercity Bank, Bosso Road, Minna.
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