The Niger State House of Assembly has called on the state government to as a matter of urgency employ qualified medical doctors, or engage the services of retired doctors on contract basis to provide health care services.
The House reached the resolution following a motion on ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance urging the Executive Arm of Niger State Government to as a matter of Urgency Provide doctors in Kontagora General Hospital’.
The motion was moved by Sani Umar, the member representing Kontagora 1 Constituency, during plenary on Wednesday.
The lawmaker told the House the employment of medical doctors will arrest the rate of untimely death in the Kontagora area of the state.
He said, “Good health is indeed wealth. I want to inform the House that Kontagora General Hospital currently does not have a qualified doctor to provide life saving procedures on several patients needing medical assistance.
“Sometimes up to five patients die per day.
“With the current economic realities facing the country, most families cannot afford to patronize private clinics and hence rely on medical services provided by public medical centers.”
Umar further noted that as representatives of the people, it is their responsibility to speak up and seek for life saving decisions for the benefit of their people.
He added that Kontagora General Hospital is the only government-owned hospital that serves about four LGAs which include Rijau, Magama, Mariga, and Kontagora.
