By our reporter
The scene at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano is pretty chaotic right now.
Reports show a severe shortage of doctors – only about 1,300 physicians for a population of over 20 million, which works out to roughly one doctor for every 11,500 patients.
Because of that, the Accident & Emergency unit is constantly overflowing; it’s been reported that patients sometimes have to be treated on the floor and that the ward can only accommodate 36 beds while the demand is for 30‑70 medical cases and 50‑100 accident cases at any given time.
To make matters worse, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Kano branch withdrew services in November 2024 after a doctor was assaulted, citing inadequate staffing and security.
In the midst of this, the hospital has been leaning on students from the School of Hygiene for basic patient checks and routine tasks, which is a clear sign that the regular staff are stretched thin.
The same source notes that the lack of health educators and sufficient workers is a recurring problem, and the government has been urged to provide more practitioners and better amenities like electricity.
All of this points to a broader issue of neglect that many point to Governor Abba Yusuf’s administration, especially given the recent budget allocations that earmark only 16 % of the N549 billion state budget to health.
In swift reaction, a good Samaritan also indigens called on the Governor Abbah to suspend “bridge and flyover” business and safe lives in hospitals saying ” we didn’t vote you to invest on flyover business rather, we elected you to improved in our health facilities, he noted in a viral vedio trending for week or more
It will be recalled that the Governor has concluded the rehabilitation of so many health care facilities such Nuhu Bamali, Hasiyah Bayero Hospital Kano but still under renovations
When contact, the Commissioner for Health, prove abortive as his line was not connected or rich
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