Niger Assembly urges swift recruitment of medical doctors for Kontagora hospital

The Niger State House of Assembly has called on the executive arm of government to urgently recruit qualified medical doctors to be deployed to Kontagora General Hospital. Alternatively, they suggested engaging retired medical doctors on a contract basis to provide medical services.

This resolution was reached when a matter of urgent public importance was presented by Hon. Sani Umar, the member representing Kontagora I Constituency, during the plenary session of the House. He urged the Niger State Government to act quickly to provide doctors for Kontagora General Hospital in Kontagora Local Government Area to prevent the untimely deaths of innocent citizens.

Presenting his motion, Hon. Umar emphasised that good health is indeed wealth and pointed out that Kontagora General Hospital, as it currently stands, does not have a qualified medical doctor to provide life-saving procedures for several patients in need of medical assistance. He added that, alarmingly, up to five patients die daily due to the lack of medical personnel.

He explained that, given the current economic realities facing the country, most families cannot afford to seek treatment at private clinics and therefore rely on the medical services provided by public facilities.

“As representatives of the good people of Niger State, we have a responsibility to speak up and advocate for life-saving decisions for the benefit of our constituents,” Hon. Umar stressed. He noted that Kontagora General Hospital is the only government-owned hospital serving about four local government areas: Rijau, Magama, Mariga, and Kontagora itself.

At the end of his presentation and after deliberations, the House unanimously adopted the prayers of the motion as captured.

Similarly, the House urged the executive arm of the state to intervene immediately through the Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management to assist residents of communities affected by natural disasters, enabling them to re-establish themselves while seeking to provide a permanent solution to the perennial occurrences.

This call for action followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance, introduced by Hon. Ahmed Mohammed, representing Edati Constituency, urging the Niger State Government to address the ongoing flooding issues and aid residents of Edati Local Government whose means of livelihood have been washed away or submerged.

Hon. Ahmed Mohammed informed his colleagues that this year’s rainy season has caused significant destruction to farmlands, homes, and other properties in ten wards of Edati Local Government Area. He noted that villages such as Kwale, Gbodoti, Guzzan, Kobbo, Gonagi Ezhigi, and Ekpegi have seen their farmlands, including crops like rice, submerged in water. Additionally, the villages of Tama and Nku have been completely inundated.

He explained that the primary occupations in these communities are rice farming and fishing, and with their livelihoods compromised, many residents are now stranded without any means of income. Most people have been displaced and are currently taking refuge in schools or with relatives.

He further emphasised that the communities have been cut off from one another due to the flooding. Located in lowland areas, they experience continuous inflow from the Kaduna and Niger rivers. He added that soon, water from the Jebba and Kainji Hydro Power Dams will also be released, exacerbating the situation.

He added that this is a perennial occurrence as these communities have been experiencing floods for over 5 years now. Tama and Nku Villages are also unfortunate to be located right by the confluence of Rivers Niger and Kaduna and so bear the brunt of the destruction.

“A long-term plan or permanent solution needs to be found while calling for immediate intervention and assistance to the victims of flooding,” he submitted.

At the end of his presentation and deliberations, the House unanimously adopted the prayers of the motion as captured.

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