…Threaten to withdraw services

From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

Doctors in Ogun State-owned General Hospitals under the aegis of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), of the state chapter, on Tuesday, expressed dismay at the dilapidated nature of infrastructure in general hospitals across the state.

The association, which also lamented non-functioning of medical equipment and non-availability of functioning ambulance in the hospitals, however, called on the state government to employ more health workers in order to reduce the workload on staff for better performance.

The association also threatened to down tools by September, this year, should the state government failed to address the issues.

Chairman of NAGGMDP in the state, Dr. Oladunni Adetola, who stated this while briefing journalists, in Abeokuta, said it was painful that state-owned hospitals lack major medical instruments such as functioning machine, oxygen concentrator and suturing instruments, needed for emergency services.

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He pointed out that there was a gross shortage of medical personnel at those hospitals, disclosing health workers were employed last in 2013, saying nine general hospitals in the state could only boast of 50 medical officers against 210 required.

The gap, Adetola noted, had put undue pressure on the available health workers and wondered what quality service could be provided by the hospitals.

The chairman, who stated that several letters had been written to the state government to address the issues, without any response, however, maintained that once his members withdraw their services in September, they would not resume until certain conditions are met.

He then implored the state government to offset 16 months Check-Off dues deducted from salaries of its members and adjust the disparity in emolument of NAGGMDP members and their counterparts in other state-owned health institutions.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, explained that the state government was not unmindful of the situation and pleaded with the association for understanding.

According to Ipaye, the harsh economic reality in the country had affected major projects embarked upon by the state government saying that major rehabilitation of health facilities was being undertaken across the state.