Still on Katsina health workers’ strike one

It is common knowledge that the issue of minimum wage does not affect the health sector workers in the state because their salary payment is based on CONHESS. But in a spirit of solidarity, Katsina state health workers proceeded on solidarity strike with the state NLC for the period of almost a month. Few months […]

It is common knowledge that the issue of minimum wage does not affect the health sector workers in the state because their salary payment is based on CONHESS. But in a spirit of solidarity, Katsina state health workers proceeded on solidarity strike with the state NLC for the period of almost a month.

Few months ago, the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina advertised vacancies for the positions of nurses, medical doctors and for other health workers, in which applications were made mostly by the Katsina State indigenes working with the state hospitals. Subsequently, candidates were shortlisted and interviews conducted in which successful candidates emerged.

However, to the surprise of Katsina State indigenes that were offered employment at the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina, the salary to be paid at the FMC was less than what they were being paid by the Katsina State health management board. It was at that time that it dawned on Katsina State health workers that what the Governor Shema administration was paying health workers exceeded that of the federal government. The enhanced pay is because the government wanted to attract good hands into the health sector in Katsina State.

In Katsina State, the state government operates free drug services in all its health care centres under the state’s drug revolving scheme. Similarly, there is provision for free medicare for malaria, antenatal care delivery, accident cases and dialysis for patients with kidney failure. Governor Shema’s administration has also sponsored over many indigenes of the state to study medicine within and outside the country. It is also on record that the state is among very few in Nigeria paying the highest professional allowances to medical staff.

While many states are attributing lack of funds as hindrance to execution of projects, Governor Shema’s administration has constructed 250 beds orthopaedic hospital, the second of its kind in Northern Nigeria.

The hospital has modern scanning rooms with ultra-sound, theatre, maintenance and workshop rooms, 10 different wards, two amenities ward, three kitchens, and three sit out visitors’ rooms for patients admitted in the hospital. The staff quarters also have 33 houses with 3-, 2- and 1-bedroom apartments respectively. There is no doubt that the orthopaedic hospital that will soon be commissioned will assist in providing health care delivery to the entire 19 northern states.

In the Nigerian political arena that is characterized by corruption and bad governance, the likes of Governor Shema should be encouraged, if the truth must be told.

Alfred Martins, Team Leader, Good Governance Initiative, Katsina