Rabiu Omaku
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state in a frantic step to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to the people of the state has donated four dialysis machines worth millions of naira to the management of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia.
The Chief Medical Director, Ahmed Yakubu Ashuku stated this during an interview with some selected Journalist recently, The CMD averred that specialist hospital can boost of six units of dialysis machines, He affirmed that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura donated four units, one by the former regime and the hospital management procured one unit respectively, He added.
String of success recorded during the incumbent administration include the directive to engage the service of six consultants by the state Government, He however asserted that the hospital is a training institute for other doctors.
Other breakthrough is the introduction of Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura,He listed some of the daunting challenges to lack of patronage by patients to drugs outlet within the hospital.
“Patients preferred going outside our outlet to procured drugs at an open chemist, an most at times they keep on buying substandard drugs”.
Ashuku explained that the hospital has five surgeons, one Epidemiologist, While clearing the air on the acute shortage of manpower that bedeviled the specialist hospital, The chief Medical Director said DASH has the workforce of 126 practicing doctors excluding non professionals.
Other categories of doctors available at the specialist hospital also are hematologist; Dr.Ashuku listed some of the hiccups facing the hospital to inadequate clinical manpower to carryout clinical service.
He commended his staffs for their resilience and commitment in discharging their responsibilities, calling on them to put more effort in their duty by copying the good legacy for my successors”.
The Chief Medical Director debunked an allegation of deduction in salary of staffs of the hospital by his office; Saying is not signatory to their salaries.
“The deduction is not my making and I also experienced that, infact is an issue we forwarded to the highest authority, Is a mere allegation that lacks substance ,what I really want from our staff is for them to portray DASH with a good image not blackmail ,He reacted.
An insider who pleaded anonymity confided that the salary of staff of DASH is unstable for the past three months, He further said available facts revealed that the deduction which range from N5000,N4000 to N3000 was as a result of recalculated tax by the management of DASH.
Doctors are at arm’s length over the non implementation of CONHENSS by their employer over nagging encumbrances include acute shortage of laboratory scientist to conduct diagnosis, A competent source maintained that only seventeen (17)lab scientist including five (5) administrative heads are in the specialist hospital, Further findings unraveled that Federal Medical Centre, Keffi has over one hundred (100) lab scientist.
“At least a scientist is expected to diagnosed not less than thirty five (35) to forty (40) patients daily but more than hundred with available patients waiting, In short we are rush to conduct diagnosis half way, Sometimes if patient revealed to us his predicament we will just write drugs for him, Our source confesses as the shortage of scientist potent danger to the lives of people patronizing the hospital.
Other huddles of DASH include inadequate bed space as patients in the accident and emergency ward undergoes treatment under the shade of tree or inside vehicle that brought a patient to the hospital, The absence of General hospital in Lafia, The seat of power may not be unconnected to the congestion experienced over the years.
Universalreporters247.com gathered that the new branch of DASH in Millionaires Quaters is experiencing low patronage as a staff of the hospital identified the predicament of the branch to shortage of manpower.
