Health
STAKEHOLDERS in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno have called on governments at all levels to increase funding for general and specialists’ hospitals in the North-east to enhance service delivery.
The stakeholders made the call while responding to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) survey on the state of general and specialists’ hospitals in the country.
They said increased funding for the hospitals would accelerate procurement of modern equipment, recruitment of qualified workers and infrastructure development at the facilities.
Dr Ayuba Zakar, Medical Director, Potiskum Specialists’ Hospital in Yobe, said although successes were recorded in the hospital’s services, more challenges persisted.
He said the rapid population growth in the town had increased demand for healthcare and bed space more than the capacity of the hospital.
“This situation becomes worse during the peak of malaria seasons when patient numbers surge. Patients will come and there will be no space to be accommodated.
“The hospital actually needs expansion, we need more wards to be able to take care of the patients,” he said.
Zakar, a Consultant Dermatologist, also highlighted the challenge of the shortage of personnel occasioned by the increasing migration of medical personnel out of the country.
“Doctors are leaving this country en masse and for us to maintain them, we have to make them comfortable. Once their families are comfortable they can render services as they should.
“This includes those working in the Theatre – Anaesthesiologists and nurses that we can call any time, “ the medical director said.
He, however, stressed the importance of providing residential quarters for staff to ensure quick response during emergencies.
Zakar expressed concern over the flagrant disregard for visiting hours by patients’ relatives who, in most cases, exceeded the approved limit.
The medical director said such an act puts the visitors on a collision course with security operatives, disrupts hospital operations, and increases the risk of contracting diseases.
“ People need to be aware, when you come to the hospital, you are likely going to pick what we call pathogens (an infectious agent) and your chances of picking this, increase with the duration of the stay,” he said.
Zakar also commended the state government for overhauling the hospital’s water supply system, the establishment of a solar-powered plant and regular capacity building for medical personnel.
Similarly, some patients have expressed concern over the non-completion of the Accident and Emergency Unit project of the Potiskum Specialists’ Hospital years after its construction began.
NAN investigation reveals that the project is sponsored by Hajiya Fatima Talba, the representative of Nangere/Potiskum Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.
Adamu Ibrahim, a patient, lamented that the project had raised hope among residents when it began, but was abandoned to his disappointment.
He called on the lawmaker to ensure completion of the project, noting that accidents frequently occurred in Potiskum due to its cosmopolitan nature.
Another patient, Ibrahim Isa, said the absence of a standard emergency unit at the hospital forced residents to convey patients to other hospitals miles away from Potiskum despite the risk involved in doing so.
At the General Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno, a NAN correspondent saw dozens of patients waiting for consultations at various departments, with many arriving from neighbouring local government areas to access medical care.
A senior hospital official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the facility continued to receive patients from across the state.
“This hospital serves not only Maiduguri residents but also patients from several local government areas and neighbouring states of Yobe and Adamawa.
“ The volume of patients has increased considerably over the years, placing pressure on available resources,” he said.
The official said that while government interventions have improved healthcare delivery, more investment is needed to expand facilities and recruit additional medical personnel.
Patients interviewed by our correspondent expressed mixed reactions to the state of healthcare services.
Mrs Hauwa Ibrahim, who brought her child for treatment, commended the professionalism of healthcare workers but complained about long waiting hours.
“The doctors and nurses are doing their best, but there are too many patients. Sometimes you spend several hours before seeing a doctor,” she said.
Another patient, Modu Ali, said treatment had improved, but some prescribed drugs were not always available in the hospital pharmacy, forcing patients to buy them elsewhere at higher costs.
Medical practitioners attributed many of the challenges facing the hospital to workforce shortages.
Dr Abubakar Mustapha, a Physician at one of the facilities, said doctors were often required to attend to large numbers of patients daily.
“The patient-to-doctor ratio remains high. We need more healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists, to meet growing demands,” he said.
According to him, emergency units and outpatient departments are among the most affected sections due to the volume of cases being handled daily.
Similarly, a senior nursing officer, Mrs Zainab Bukar, said nurses continued to face heavy workloads.
Despite the challenges, some healthcare workers noted improvements in maternal and child healthcare services.
Several women receiving antenatal care at the facilities told our correspondent that services had become more accessible and organised.
Fatima Goni, a nursing mother, said she received adequate care during childbirth.
“The nurses were supportive throughout the process and attended to me professionally,” she said.
Public health experts attributed improvements in healthcare delivery to investments by the Borno government and support from humanitarian organisations operating in the state.
Dr Amina Kolo, a public health specialist in Maiduguri, said health indicators had improved since the peak of the insurgency.
“Government and development partners have contributed significantly to strengthening healthcare services, particularly in maternal health, immunisation and disease control programmes,” she said.
She, however, stressed the need for sustained investments to address persistent challenges.
Mental health practitioners also raised concerns over the growing number of patients requiring psychosocial support at the hospital due to the long-term effects of insurgency and displacement.
“There is a need to strengthen mental health services as part of the broader healthcare response,” he said.
Community leaders who spoke to our correspondent called on authorities to prioritise the healthcare sector.
Alhaji Musa Gubio, a resident of Maiduguri, said public hospitals remain the primary sources of medical care for many low-income families.
“Government hospitals are very important to ordinary people. More resources should be provided to improve services and reduce the burden on patients,” he said.
In Adamawa, stakeholders have commended Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri for the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrade of Specialists’ Hospital, Yola, to the proposed Adamawa State University Teaching Hospital.
They said the intervention had transformed healthcare delivery and improved access to quality medical services at the hospital.
Ms Laraba James, a patient, recalled that in the past, patients often experienced delays in receiving treatment due to insufficient doctors and inadequate medical facilities.
She, however, said the situation had now improved significantly, with more doctors, better equipment and enhanced patient care services.
A nurse, who preferred anonymity, said poor welfare packages previously contributed to the migration of medical personnel in search of better opportunities.
The nurse, however, said that recent upgrades had brought remarkable improvements, including modern medical equipment, recruitment of health workers and improved welfare packages.
Dr Yunusa Dahiru, Consultant Radiologist at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, commended Fintiri for approving the hospital’s upgrade.
Dahiru, who is also Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Adamawa chapter, said the initiative would enhance healthcare delivery and strengthen professional commitment among medical personnel.
He said doctors and other health workers were adequately trained to operate modern medical equipment and provide quality healthcare services.
According to him, executing the teaching hospital’s mandate required adequate funding of specialised departments, regular drug supply and improved welfare for health workers.
Dr Dauda Wadinga, Chief Medical Director of Specialist Hospital, Yola, said the upgrade was aimed at improving medical education, specialised healthcare delivery, research and manpower development in the state.
Wadinga said the approval for the upgrade followed a request by the university management for a clinical training facility to be established for medical students within Adamawa.
He said the development would reduce dependence on teaching hospitals outside the state for clinical training.
The CMD said that a free renal failure treatment programme was introduced at the hospital and a modern medical laboratory was recently established. (NAN)
A.I
June 8, 2026
Tags: Dr Ayuba Zakar Dr Dauda Wadinga Dr Yunusa Dahiru Hajiya Fatima Talba Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital Nigerian Medical Association