Rabiu Omaku
The Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital, Lafia, in a proactive step to inject new life to the State owned Tertiary health facility in the State has affirmed that the hospital has all it takes to be a teaching hospital, said the Chief Medical Director,Dr.Ikrama Hassan.
The Chairman Medical Advisory Council (C-MAC) Dr.Aboje O.Aboje who stand in for the Chief Medical Director averred that the Tertiary hospital can boast of fifty three (53) consultants out of which he said thirteen are visiting consultants and forty are from the facility, bringing the number of consultants to fifty three.
Also the Public Relations Officer of DASH, Deborah Dangara while shedding more light on manpower, buttressed that the Tertiary health facility has a total number of One hundred and forty Doctors.
With the ongoing fight against Lassa fever and Coronavirus pandemic in the globe which Nigeria is inclusive,the Chief Medical Director has established an Isolation centre.
The Chairman committee on Lassa fever and Coronavirus, Dr.Isa Oboirien , a physician consultant attested that DASH is ready for the Coronavirus pandemic.
He explained that the Coronavirus Response team comprise of five Medical doctors ,five nurses and five laboratory scientist and other relevant health personnel.
It is expected that the hospital in no distance time would procure another Echo machine, a device meant for the diagnosis of cardio vascular disease.
The pronouncement made by the State Governor, Engr.Abdullahi Alhaji.Sule to provide Echo machine was made at the Lafia township stadium when one of the footballer died instantly.
The device would reduce the increasing cases of cardio vascular disease, a disease associated with heart attack/strokes.
Some key feat recorded by Dr. Ikrama Hassan includes the blockage of leakage leading to low revenue generation.
Building barriers to prevent unwanted persons from having access to patients and doctors. The approach was meant to protect and prevent incessant attack meted on doctors and other health personnel in DASH especially female doctors.
DASH has an up to date CT scan Machine that can stand the taste of time with two functional ambulance.
Besides, the hospital under Dr.Ikrama Hassan organized free testing for over fifty practicing Journalists in Nasarawa State ,the free testing included High Blood Pressure, HIV/ AIDS and hepatitis.
The hospital under Ikrama organized blood donations/transfusion with a view to save lives during an emergency situation either by accident victims or pregnant women.
The Chief Medical Director has changed the entire narrative by bringing in new ground to the hospital.
Under the headship of the current CMD, The congested Emergency and Accident Victims (E&A) unit was expanded to accommodate larger group of accident victims and other emergency situations.
One of the nonchalant attitude of doctors diverting patients to their private clinics, hospitals and laboratory, this practice posed a serious challenge to DASH and was tackled headlong by the Chief Medical Director by penalizing recalcitrant doctors.
Despite the unprecedented achievements recorded, the State Government needs to do more in the area of appointment of qualified medical doctors and less supportive staff.
There is the need for the State Government to build more laboratories in DASH.as well to upgrade the existing Mortuary.
Truly Dr.Ikrama Hassan is on a rescue mission to salvage the only existing Tertiary hospital which in no distance time would metamorphose to University Teaching Hospital.
Government must do something fast to decongest Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital by making existing Primary Health Care more attractive.
Also the State Ministry of Health should not relent on its effort to complete and equip the building of National Centre for Disease Control in DASH which would serve as NCDC for North-central States.
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