Kano State may face a significant healthcare disruption as the National Association of Government General and Medical Dental Practitioners announced a statewide strike set to commence on October 1, 2024.
The announcement was made by the Association’s Secretary, Dr. Anas Hassan who revealed that the decision followed the failure of the state government to fulfill the terms of an agreement reached with the association in June.
“Despite reaching an understanding three months ago, the Kano State Government has not met our demands, particularly the payment of post-COVID-19 hazard allowances, which the federal government has been paying since 2021,” he stated.
In addition to the delayed hazard allowances, Dr. Hassan expressed concern about the non-payment of salaries for medical doctors who were hired in September 2023.
He noted that these workers, critical to the functioning of Kano’s already overstretched healthcare system, have yet to receive compensation for their services.
The Association also raised the alarm over the poor state of healthcare infrastructure in Kano hospitals which it noted were in a dilapidated state and lacking necessary medical equipment.
According to Dr. Hassan, these conditions pose a significant challenge to the delivery of quality healthcare services.
One of the most alarming issues highlighted was the critical doctor-to-patient ratio in the state. Kano, with an estimated population of 20 million people, is served by only 600 doctors, leading to a ratio of one doctor for every 33,000 patients—far below the World Health Organization’s recommendation.
Given these persistent issues, the Association stressed that the strike was a last resort. “We have no choice but to embark on this strike action until our demands are met,” Dr. Hassan concluded.
The strike could have severe consequences for Kano State’s healthcare system, especially in light of the ongoing challenges with medical staffing and hospital conditions.
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