Doctors’ under the umbrella of National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Ogun State Chapter, has threatened to downtools over the deplorable state health facilities in most General Hospitals across the state.
They also lamented gross shortage of medical personnel and health workers in the state hospitals, saying government last employed health workers in 2013 into the General Hospitals.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday was the State Chairman of NAGGMDP, Dr Adetola Oladunni who said that infrastructural facilities in most of the hospitals are nothing to write home about.
Oladunni, flanked by other executive members of the association added that “common” equipment for effective health care delivery are not available in the hospitals.
They also lamented the inability of the state government to remit its 16 months check off dues.
The association said, “The infrastructure in our state and General Hospital are in pitiable state begging for repair. Most of our equipment and machines are grounded. 95 per cent of our hospitals do not have functioning ambulance for emergency services. Some of the structure/building in our hospital need to be demolished and rebuild.
“There is gross shortage of medical personnel/health workers in the General Hospital across all the zones of the state. Our hospitals have been having progressive reduction in the number of personnel which arise from those who retired statutorily and those who left the state service for better offer elsewhere.
“What quality of service do we expect from these hospitals? The effect of this is quite glaring in the poor health indices of this state. This unfortunately has continued with no hope of government recruiting health workers soon.”
The association said that several letters written to the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and other stakeholders were without response from government.
The chairman added that the association at its Ordinary General Meeting early in July, resolved that its members should withdraw call duty service from August 1 and total withdrawal of service by September 1.
When contacted the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, pleaded with the doctors’ to show understanding, saying that government is not unmindful of the situation.
Ipaye blamed the challenges on the harsh economic reality of the country explaining that government is carrying out some major rehabilitation of health facilities and structures around the state.
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