Catbird
Senior Moderator
Doctors May Flee Northern States
February 16, 2013
"There are fears that medical doctors and other health workers may soon begin to flee the northern part of the country for fear of insecurity.
The situation may engender epidemics such as Malaria, Cholera, Meningitis, Polio and others if the hospitals and health centres are deserted by health workers.
This follows last week?s killing of nine polio vaccinators in Nasarawa and Taurani local government areas of Kano State and the murder of three North Korean doctors in Potiskum, Yobe State, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
Recently, a consultant physician was killed by gunmen at the gate of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.
Already, there is palpable fear and apprehension among health workers in the region as many of them are said to have concluded arrangements to leave the North in droves and relocate to the South-South and South-West, where their security could be guaranteed.
...A source said, ?There is likely going to be serious crisis in Northern Nigeria because 80 per cent of the doctors have signified their intention to quit and opt for alternatives in the South-South and South-West, especially Lagos where they will feel secure. They can no longer stay in Kano for the killings lack logic and reason.?
A senior official of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency hinted that the development had become a source of worry to the Federal Government.
He said, ?As it is now, nobody is ready to die and I can tell you that many of the health workers are so scared that they won?t embark on such suicidal pilgrimage. Nobody is ready to sacrifice his/her life.?...".
February 16, 2013
"There are fears that medical doctors and other health workers may soon begin to flee the northern part of the country for fear of insecurity.
The situation may engender epidemics such as Malaria, Cholera, Meningitis, Polio and others if the hospitals and health centres are deserted by health workers.
This follows last week?s killing of nine polio vaccinators in Nasarawa and Taurani local government areas of Kano State and the murder of three North Korean doctors in Potiskum, Yobe State, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
Recently, a consultant physician was killed by gunmen at the gate of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.
Already, there is palpable fear and apprehension among health workers in the region as many of them are said to have concluded arrangements to leave the North in droves and relocate to the South-South and South-West, where their security could be guaranteed.
...A source said, ?There is likely going to be serious crisis in Northern Nigeria because 80 per cent of the doctors have signified their intention to quit and opt for alternatives in the South-South and South-West, especially Lagos where they will feel secure. They can no longer stay in Kano for the killings lack logic and reason.?
A senior official of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency hinted that the development had become a source of worry to the Federal Government.
He said, ?As it is now, nobody is ready to die and I can tell you that many of the health workers are so scared that they won?t embark on such suicidal pilgrimage. Nobody is ready to sacrifice his/her life.?...".