From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has described the lackadaisical attitude of the officials of the state ministry of health towards patients and the hospital’s environment as sabotage of his new administration.
This was contained in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Mr Hamisu Mohd in Dutse.
He said the governor spoke during an unscheduled visit to Dutse General Hospital recently
According to the statement, “The Governor was not happy with the deplorable condition of the hospital. In some sections, there was no light as both staff and patients were sitting in the dark, and in some patient wards, there were no window nets to prevent mosquitoes. “
The statement explained further that “the governor was particularly upset to find out that patients, especially children under five years who are outpatient and some on admission were paying for drugs and other medical services in the hospital despite the state government’s policy of free meditation for pregnant women and children under five years across the state”.
Mr. Hamisu maintained that “selling drugs in the hospital to pregnant women and children under five years contravened the State Government’s policy of free healthcare for children under five years in the state.”
He said, “The governor frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of the hospital’s management, saying, ‘This is tantamount to sabotage. 70% of the patients interviewed by the governor said they bought drugs and were not given bedsheets. “
The CPS in the statement warned that the state government would not condone such behavior henceforth.