The People’s Democratic Party in Jigawa State has expressed concern over what it described as the deplorable condition of Dutse General Hospital, urging Governor Umar Namadi to take immediate action to address the challenges facing the healthcare facility.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the state Deputy Chairman of the Jigawa State PDP, Umar Danjani, on Tuesday in Dutse, the State capital.
Umar Danjani expressed dismay over the hospital’s condition, saying it was a reflection of the state’s healthcare system.
“I was moved to tears by the terrible condition of the hospital,” he said.
It’s worth noting that the current situation is further compounded by the recent power outage in Dutse, the state capital, which has lasted for almost five days as the non-availability of electricity supply from KEDCO has affected the expected daily services of many sectors in the state, including healthcare.
“There has been no electricity in the General Hospital for almost three days now. Everything has come to a standstill, as most of the machines and equipment cannot function without power,” Danjani lamented.
According to Danjani, the hospital’s woes are not limited to power outages alone.
“The hospital often lacks water, and sometimes local residents have to bring water early in the morning because there’s no diesel to run the generators,” he said.
The PDP chieftain also expressed concern over what he described as the severe shortage of medical personnel in the hospital. “Many poor people have stopped going to the hospital because of the lack of adequate care. Patients arrive early in the morning and wait until around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, only to be told that the doctor will not be available that day,” he added.
Danjani appealed to the governor’s conscience and fear of God, urging him to take immediate action to improve the hospital’s condition. “Whether you like it or not, one day you will leave this seat of power, just like those before you. What will be remembered is whether you used your time to improve the lives of your people or otherwise,” he said.
In the statement, the PDP stalwart also recalled the governor’s visit to the hospital at the beginning of his administration, saying the situation has worsened since then.
“You saw its condition firsthand and even raised concerns about its lack of electricity and a working generator. Sadly, things have only gotten worse since that visit,” Danjani noted.
He urged the governor to prioritize the hospital’s renovation and staffing.
“If the Dutse General Hospital cannot be fixed, then it is better to suspend the construction of new hospitals across Jigawa State, therefore Health and human lives should never be politicized.
“The condition of Dutse General Hospital is a reflection of the state’s healthcare facilities. Anyone who visits the hospital will understand the condition of healthcare facilities across the entire state,” Danjani concluded.
Efforts to reach out to the management of Dutse General Hospital for comment on the allegations were unsuccessful, as officers refused to speak with our correspondent, claiming they were not authorized to comment on the matter.
Additionally, attempts to speak with the Chief Medical Director were also futile despite repeated visits to the hospital; the management remained tight-lipped, leaving questions about the hospital’s challenges unanswered.
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hamisu Gumel, promised to look into the matter and provide a response. “We will investigate the situation and provide a response as soon as possible,” he said via telephone interview.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor responded to the PDP’s concerns, acknowledging the challenges posed by the current power outage in the state.
“The current power outage has indeed affected the hospital’s operations, and we understand the importance of uninterrupted power supply to healthcare services. However, we’re working to resolve the issue as soon as possible,” Gumel said.
Gumel noted that the hospital’s reliance on solar power has limitations, especially when it comes to operating heavy devices and machines. “While solar power has been a useful alternative, it’s true that it’s not sufficient to power all the equipment and machines in the hospital. We’re exploring options to supplement our power needs and ensure the hospital’s operations are not disrupted,” he added.
“We recognise the importance of healthcare services to our citizens, and we’ll work to resolve the power outage issue as soon as possible. We’ll also explore long-term solutions to prevent such disruptions in the future,” he assured.
Moreso, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdullahi Kainuwa, while responding to the allegations via telephone when contacted by the PUNCH correspondent, expressing surprise and skepticism.
“I’m not aware of any problems at Dutse General Hospital. No official or management of the hospital has written to me or my office regarding these challenges,” Kainuwa said.
When asked to comment on the specific issues raised by the PDP, Kainuwa said, “Why do you journalists always focus on the negative? Can’t you tell the good things we’re doing? Instead of highlighting our achievements, you’re always looking for problems.”
The commissioner further questioned the journalist’s approach, asking, “Don’t you have challenges in your own house? Do you think everything is perfect everywhere else? Why are you always picking on us?”
