Gambo Sawaba Hospital struggling to heal itself
A stench welcomes visitors to the maternity ward of the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital. A first-time visitor may wonder whether he is by the side of a poorly-maintained convenience. Many women, who, obviously, have no other option, can be seen lying down after having been delivered of their babies. Relatives, as well, are waiting patiently […]
A stench welcomes visitors to the maternity ward of the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital. A first-time visitor may wonder whether he is by the side of a poorly-maintained convenience. Many women, who, obviously, have no other option, can be seen lying down after having been delivered of their babies. Relatives, as well, are waiting patiently at the entrance of the ward. The general dilapidation is not affecting only the maternity ward, but all other wards, including a VVF Centre that was donated by a Japanese agency.
When Weekly Trust visited the Mustafa Danraka Ward, which is the main male ward of the hospital, it was observed that most of the windows were broken. Because of the harmattan season that comes with strong winds, a few patients at the ward decided to help themselves. Malam Yunusa Uthman, a patient, said: “As you can see, we are using old tin sheets and sacks to cover the windows. Nevertheless, the strong winds get to us. This is only one aspect of our problems, as there are others which are more serious. As you can see, the surrounding of the ward is covered by tall grasses, making the area bushy. It would be an understatement to say mosquitoes have a field day at night.”
Uthman said the bad condition of the ward’s toilets makes it more conducive for them to defecate in the open field just behind. “So, how can you call this place a hospital? I’m just here because I don’t have an alternative,” he said. Findings by Weekly Trust indicate that the hospital is facing additional challenges, as human waste could be seen could be observed scattered all over the floor of the pit latrine.
Apart from the dilapidation of infrastructure, there is also the problem of inadequate doctors and nurses. There are only seven doctors serving the hospital and 60 nurses. This issue of inadequate personnel, our investigation revealed, made the cancellation of the night shift in most wards of the hospital. Another patient said: “As patients, in the night we are usually left to our fate. Even in emergency cases, there would be nobody to attend to us. Of course, many people have lost their lives because of the neglect that this hospital is facing. I want to tell you that over 90 percent of people you see here are in this hospital because they have no other option.”
When Weekly Trust visited the hospital, it was discovered that medical students on internships were the only ones in the Mustafa Danraka ward attending to patients. The students, a male and a female, said they are from schools of health in Sokoto and Kaduna states. They said instead of learning nursing jobs, they were forced to engage in activities that they are not competent at. “I have never seen a hospital like this. Sometimes even the kerosene that we would use in lighting our lamps is not made available. We stay here up to about 8 or 9pm before we leave for our homes. People are just dying because of neglect and absence of personnel that would take care of them. It is unfortunate,” one of the interns said.
Some patients confirmed to Weekly Trust that the hospital management combines people with severe communicable diseases with those with minor ailments in the same ward. One patient said: “My father came here with me to this hospital to look after me. We were put in the same ward, which is Mustafa Danraka, with some people suffering from tuberculosis. After some days, my father began to develop symptoms of tuberculosis. Finally, he has done x-ray and it was discovered that he is now infected by TB. Can you imagine that?”
Despite the difficulties that patients go through at the Gambo Sawaba Hospital, officials demand for the provision of certain items before a patient is admitted. “I was asked to bring detergent and other things. They also charged fees for beds. There aren’t any free drugs here. We buy all the drugs ourselves. What they tell the world is different from what is obtained here.”
The paediatric ward, once counted among the best, is also decaying with the rest of the hospital. The problems facing the hospital have since forced some residents of Zaria to stop going there for medical care. Some wards of the hospital are deserted, leaving those with no option behind. Weekly Trust investigations revealed that the problems bedeviling the hospital are manifestations of neglect which the hospital faced after the exit of the Makarfi government, which had renovated the hospital and equipped it.
Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Habila Mu’azu, lamented the problems facing the hospital, saying most of them are beyond his control. “We agree that we have challenges of infrastructure but the attitude of workers is also a serious problem here. Some workers, including doctors and nurses, come to work when they like because they have connections with some politicians. But we are doing our best.”
Dr. Mu’azu said while they may have a shortage of doctors and nurses, “What would you say of private hospitals that are managed by one doctor, the owner?” He said that because there is commitment, such hospitals are running very well.
“People tend to take things for granted here because it is government hospital, but we have started taking action. We are beginning to apply disciplinary measures and very soon these issues would be overcome,” Dr. Mu’azu said.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Turaki Z. Kalek, said there would be new developments in the hospital very soon as he has started touring all the state’s hospitals with a view of identifying their problems.
While residents of the old town of Zaria await Kalek’s good news, patients presently lying ill at the equally ailing Gambo Sawaba General Hospital continue to endure the deteriorating facilities, harsh medical personnel, as well as the risk of contracting dangerous diseases.