Health Interactive with Dr Aminu Magashi

Averting Health Crises in Kano

cphkano@yahoo.co.uk

When I wrote my piece entitled ‘Dr Adnan and his Medical Colleagues that was published on this page of March, 16^th, 2004 , my intention then , was to critically examine the plight of a medical doctor who suffered a motor ghastly accident with a brain injury and abandoned at the mercy of the society and his parents. I was of the opinion then, that both the state that contributed immensely to his medical education and his colleagues under the banner of Association of Resident Doctors ( ARD ) , Kano State branch exhibited non-challant attitude to timely support and address his needs. I took a swipe at the executive council of ARD for been inept not only to the welfare of their member, but the entire health problems in the state which in my believe, the union has a role to play.

That article more or less contributed in stimulating both the then Exco and the entire Congress which led to series of events, notable among them, were, dissolution of the former Executive Council against their will, amendment of the union constitution to provide two year term instead of one year term for elected officers and constituting an electoral committee to organize election and swearing-in- ceremony. This writer chaired that committee and on 9^th May, 04 elections was held and on 27^th of the same month, the executive members took oath of office in a colourful and befitting swearing in ceremony , where by a lot of health unions and senior colleagues were in attendance. As a member of the ARD kano , that appearance was my last contribution and to exercise my membership role, before I assume a full term role as a public health worker and researcher through a non governmental organization.

It was that executive council that was sworn in on 27^th May, 04  under the leadership of its president , Dr Mohammed Sani Umar  after rising from its congress meeting, that gave Kano State government  a six weeks ultimatum which expired on 22^nd November, 04 . It was an ultimatum for embarking on strike if the government refuses to address their demands. It is an open secret that doctors under the kano State Government  currently are the least paid all over the country , states like Jigawa, Zamfara , Katsina and many other places, their doctors are faring better, the difference in remuneration between kano state and others , in some places, it reach of to N 25, 000 . As I said earlier before on this page, that wide  gap is unacceptable and it  has a way of dampening the spirit of the workers, not taking work serious and while working for the state, will be devising ways to look for alternative places to work. I believe that feelings and emotion by the workers is among the crises I intend to highlight in this discourse.

Unfortunately for ARD Kano , at the pick of expiration of their ultimatum to embark on strike, a very common disease to the state reared  its head and worsen the  situation in the state , Cholera which reportedly, killed about 51 people and left about 600 people admitted in  various  hospitals particularly  Infectious Disease Hospital and Hasiya Bayero Pediatrics Hospitals. People were aghast to hear series of claims by the Ministry of Health that initially the problem was a mere Gastro Enteritis not cholera, later on when it was glaringly obvious even to doubting Thomases that, the situation was really out break of cholera, the people again heard from the same source that, drugs were available and adequate at the two hospitals mentioned above. By the time the Executive Governor of the state visited the two hospitals, it was reportedly mentioned by the two medical directors that  , drugs were grossly inadequate, like wise facilities to curtail the situation, and definitely, people know which information to  believe between the one  emanating from ministry of health and the two hospitals. With respect to the ARD strike against the back drop of cholera, no one would have supported them if they embark on such strike despite the fact that they have a genuine reason for that. They resorted to reasons and of course the series of discussion and appeal by senior colleagues, former commissioner of healths, directors at the ministry, health management board and other elders of the society.

For them to sheath their sword  , a commitment was given to them that within two weeks something would be done and it was based on that the strike was suspended. The two weeks expiration is just about the corner and I urge the Commissioner of Health , Dr Sanda Mohhamed and his team to own up to their promise and address the yearning of  the medical doctors in the state to avoid putting the masses in a lot of jeopardy. The elders that intervened to avoid the crises are enjoyed to follow it up to the ministry for the successful implementation of the promise made. The danger of not following such promise will be disastrous to them , due to the fact that if the ministry does not own up to that promise, the elders that intervened are liable to lose their respect and will not have any word again to convince the union not to embark on strike.

Another issue of concern which I want the ministry to take serious is the issue of other health workers that are not medical doctors who equally have grouse and needs just like their counter part in ARD. Just like Kano medical doctors being the least paid in the country, other health workers like Nurses, Mid wives , Lab  and Theater workers are also not faring  well compared to their counter parts else where . My advice is that, while the ministry is looking at the issue of doctors, even before other health workers begin to rumble about their needs, I urge the ministry to look in to the entire problems of health workers to avoid further crises.

In conclusion, my general appeal is to the ARD and other health workers in the state, they should try and be networking from time to time to discuss the dwindling health institutions and infrastructure and facilities in the state, as unionists, their mandate should be more than the welfare of their members but facilities to be available in the hospitals, with out such, their work will not be appreciated by the beneficiaries and the general populace of the state. It is an open secret that , one can hardly find a functional suction machine , working oxygen gas  cylinder, pediatric stethoscope and other emergency drugs  in emergency units of hospitals  in the state , these are the issues that I expect the unions to equally address and bring to  light

The Nigerian Medical Association , Kano State Branch has an immense task to play in ensuring effective health care delivery system in the state, but that cannot be possible and achievable until the Executive council of the NMA are willing to separate and differentiate between personal organization and an organization  that belongs to all doctors in the state, the existence of  a working constitution , guidelines for  registration and being a financial member , conducting  regular executive council , congress  and annual general meetings and sincere desire and commitment  to ensure the presence of  democratic structures within the union, for now , all these are lacking in NMA kano State chapter.

Dr Magashi is the Executive Director, Community Health and Research Initiative, Kano, Nigeria .