The Niger State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the executive arm of the government to address the critical shortage of medical doctors at Kontagora General Hospital.
During a plenary session, Hon. Sani Umar presented a motion highlighting the urgent need for additional qualified medical personnel at the hospital. He revealed that the hospital currently operates with only two medical doctors, which is grossly inadequate for a facility that serves not only Kontagora but also neighboring local governments such as Mariga, Magama, and Rijau, which lack general hospitals.
The motion emphasized that the scarcity of medical doctors has led to inadequate healthcare service delivery and, tragically, loss of lives, as patients are often attended to by inexperienced medical interns. Hon. Sani Umar proposed engaging retired doctors on a contract basis to help alleviate the shortage, a suggestion that was accepted and passed by the House.
During the debate, it was disclosed that the government had approved the recruitment of 1,000 medical personnel, including 100 medical doctors. However, only 13 individuals responded to receive their appointment letters, highlighting a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining medical professionals in the state.
Members of the assembly expressed concerns about the factors contributing to the reluctance of medical professionals to work in Niger, including poor welfare and salary packages. Hon. Sani Umar, in justifying the motion, emphasized the impact of the doctor shortage on constituents' access to healthcare and advocated for similar support to address healthcare challenges in other parts of the state.