The ongoing strike by health professionals has disrupted services at public hospitals in Katsina State, leaving patients and caregivers anxious over access to medical care.
A visit to Turai Yar’adua Maternal and Child Hospital, Katsina, on Saturday revealed the impact of the industrial action, with only a few patients seen around the surgical ward, while caregivers struggled with uncertainty over the treatment of their relatives.
For many families, the dispute over workers’ remuneration has heightened concerns over the health and safety of loved ones requiring urgent medical attention.
One of the affected caregivers, Aina’u Abdulmajid, said her patient was suffering from complications arising from surgery and appealed to the state government to restore normal hospital services.
“For the sake of God, we call on the government to intervene. Our patient is suffering from complications arising from surgery. Please help us and restore services,” she pleaded.
Abdulmajid’s appeal reflected the predicament of families who depend on public hospitals for treatment but have found themselves caught between an unresolved labour dispute and the urgent need for medical attention.
Another caregiver, Sulaiman Mansir, said he had brought his sick child to the hospital for treatment but was confronted with the disruptions caused by the strike.
Mansir expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding his child’s treatment and urged the government to engage the striking health workers to resolve the dispute without further delay.
The industrial action has compounded the difficulties faced by families already grappling with transportation costs, medicines and other medical expenses.
The Assembly of Health Professionals embarked on a one-week warning strike following disagreements with the Katsina State Government over the welfare and remuneration of its members.
The state government offered a 15 per cent increase following negotiations, but the association rejected the proposal, maintaining that it fell short of its demands.
The Head of the state civil service, Alhaji Masa’ud Banye, said the government had held a meeting with representatives of the health workers to discuss the dispute.
Banye expressed optimism that the disagreement would soon be resolved, acknowledging the hardship patients were experiencing as a result of the industrial action.
He said Gov. Dikko Radda administration remained committed to effective healthcare delivery in the state.
