Four medical doctors have left Kogi State civil service as a result of non payment of salary and poor renumeration.
Kogi State chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr Omakoji Oyiguh disclosed this on Wednesday, at a familiarization visit to the Kogi State Council of Ulamua.
Dr Oyiguh who was elected new chairman of NMA in August 2020 said the havoc is also deepening as more doctors are threatening to leave as soon as they have better opportunities elsewhere.
The chairman who expressed worries on this development noted that the Kogi State Government should give utmost priority to the welfare of health workers to prevent mass exodus of doctors from the state’s civil service.
” The issue of strike is not what I want my own administration to welcome. I would want to be very proactive in discussing with government to ensure that things do not reach the level where doctors will be frustrated to go on strike. This will create crisis in the health system of Kogi State.
” Salaries have been revised over and over again since 2009, 2014 and now there is minimum wage. Kogi state is still at the lowest level of 2004. So, the doctors are not happy that their salaries compared to their counterpart in FMC is about half, compared to their counterparts also in other states.
“As at yesterday, four doctors left the service of the Kogi State Government. So they are leaving en-mass and we cannot afford to say nothing is wrong. Things are going wrong and and not happy this is also happening under my leadership. We can’t count the numbers of doctors that have quit the services of the state. This does not speak well of the confluence state. Am just two months old in this office.
“This cannot continue. I just have to cry out now before things get out of hand. Whatever the governor can do, to avert further loss of our doctors to other state, he should please do it before things gets out of hand. As he is celebrating his victory at the supreme court, he should extend that celebration to bring smiles to the faces of doctor’s in the service of the government of Kogi State” he added.
Dr. Oyiguh who spoke extensively on other issues affecting the health sector in the state however backed the ongoing strike action embarked upon by resident doctors in the country to press home their demands.
” The resident doctors at the Kogi state specialist hospital are on strike as I speak. It is not only in Kogi State but the entire nation. Their claims are legitimate. The government complained that they don’t have a lot of money to be able to deal with issues. But if you made promises in the course of this pandemic, it is important they keep to it.
“They promised allowances for those who at different duty post and risking their lives for people and you are unable to keep to this promise. People who the government made this promise has the right to them to keep their promises. And this is what is happening and I want you people to show understanding”Dr Oyiguh said.
He however lamented on the continuous closure of Federal Medical Center, FMC, Lokoja, adding that many families have lost their loved one’s in the state since they could not afford the bills of private hospitals when their relatives are sick and need treatment.
Dr. Oyiguh further stated that ” FMC Lokoja has over 250 doctors. The hospital has been closed for over two months and nobody is saying anything. What ever the reason the hospital was shut down, the council of Ulamau and other key stakeholders should be concerned with this development.
“Please talk to those in authority to ensure the reopening of the hospital. FMC cannot be closed and Kogi state specialist hospital is closed, this is not good for us. People are dying, what ever the reason is, something must be done to reopen this hospital to avert further loss of lives in the state since it not all citizens can afford the bills of private hospitals.
The NMA chairman however told the Council of Ulamau that NMA has concluded plans to set up professional committee to deal with the emerging diseases in the state.
Responding, the State secretary, Kogi State Council of Ulamau Alhaji Babango Idris called on the association to stop the activities of quack doctors in the state.
According to him, the council will continue to synergize with NMA toward the protection of medical facilities and doctors in Kogi State.
