Report has revealed that not less than 59 medical doctors have resigned from the services of the Nassarawa state government in the past three months.
Findings show that twenty out of the numbers left in the quest for greener pasture, while thirty-nine resigned on account of poor condition of service.
In the last two years, Nasarawa State Government-owned General and Specialist Hospitals have been characterized by unstable industrial harmony, strikes, protests, and resignations of health workers especially doctors due to inadequate working conditions.
Findings by our reporter revealed that the situation became alarming following the resignation of over fifty medical doctors from the state between February and March 2024.
A senior official in the administrative unit of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia who pleaded to speak under the condition of anonymity said they received over 25 resignation letters from doctors within two days.
Nasarawa State President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Yakubu Adeleke stated that since 2022, they had been reaching out to the state government to take steps toward addressing their demands bordering on welfare, but to no avail.
“Doctors in Nasarawa State have been stagnated. No promotion, some doctors have been working for eight years without promotion. Non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage and consequential adjustment of our salaries as well as nonpayment of hazard allowance,” he said.
Dr Adeleke expressed concern that the recent massive resignation of the doctors would add more pressure on the health system in the state.
In an interview, some of the doctors said they had run out of patience hence they were left with the only option to throw in the towel.
Commissioner for Health Nasarawa State Dr. Gaza Gwamna remarked that the state government had commenced the implementation of a welfare package for doctors in the state.
Dr. Gwamna appealed to the remaining doctors who were willing to remain calm as according to him, the state government had begun the process of employment to fill the vacant positions.
Meanwhile, the impact of the massive resignation of the doctors has started manifesting at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia especially at the Surgical, Gynecology, and Outpatient Units of the facility as a large number of patients were seen waiting for long hours to access care.
Nasarawa State was created in 1996 out of the then Plateau State. The state with an estimated population of over three million has 13 Local Government Areas.
Due to the continuous rise in the population of the state, General Hospitals have been established in all 13 Local Government Areas of the state including the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia the state capital to provide secondary healthcare to the citizens.