Kaduna hospital deficient in patient amenities

Investigation by our correspondent reveals that the hospital was supposed to be run with public funds but decaying and obsolete facilities continue to plague its operations in spite of government assurances to improve health facilities over the years.  One health official who pleaded for anonymity said some facilities that ought to be changed frequently such […]

Investigation by our correspondent reveals that the hospital was supposed to be run with public funds but decaying and obsolete facilities continue to plague its operations in spite of government assurances to improve health facilities over the years.  
One health official who pleaded for anonymity said some facilities that ought to be changed frequently such as the bedding sets have been neglected for almost 10 years. “The beds have not been changed for the past 10 years; there were no trolleys, stretchers and over bed tables.”
The number of deliveries taking place at the hospital he said was between 300 and 350 per week but maternity services were far below standard due to inadequate facilities.
“We have one labor room where pregnant women at first, second and third states of labor are admitted due to lack of space. Women in labor should be kept separate room from the delivery areas as well as areas where birth complications are attended to,” he said.
The hospital was said to be doing fairly well up to 2012 when government introduced the ‘generate and spend policy’ in which all monies generated in the hospital were used for maintenances.
“We now have what they call ‘generate and remit policy’ in which monies generated at the hospital were submitted to government account. The government releases monthly allocation very late now,” he said.
There were less than 10 doctors at the hospital, less than the required number. For the optimum operations, the hospital should have at least 30 doctors to attend to different patients, the source said.
The number of nurses at the hospital is also inadequate. “The ministry recently transferred 28 nurses out of the hospital and posted 16 as their replacement. Nurses don’t want to work at the public hospital in Kaduna because their salaries are less than what their colleagues receive in neighboring states like Kano and Katsina,” he added.
When approached by Daily Trust, the state health commissioner Dr. Thot Dogo said government had provided equipments at the hospital and that there were adequate doctors and nurses there.