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The Zamfara State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has given the state government a one-week ultimatum to resolve the issue of four months’ unpaid salaries for 17 medical doctors and other healthcare practitioners working at the Yarima Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau. Failure to address this matter promptly will result in the initiation of industrial action.
The State NMA Chairman, Dr. Sanusi Bello, held a press conference on Monday in Gusau, the state capital. During the conference, he highlighted the issue of July 2023 salaries for medical doctors at the hospital. Additionally, he mentioned the disbursement of eight months’ allowances to visiting consultants and professors, a move that led to the withdrawal of services by some of the consultants.
Dr. Bello announced that the association had unanimously decided to present a one-week ultimatum to the Zamfara State Government to address their grievances. He further emphasized that if the government did not meet their demands by Monday, September 4, 2023, the NMA in Zamfara would initiate a complete and indefinite strike action.
The chairman of the NMA issued a cautionary statement, highlighting that the proposed measure could result in a complete shutdown of various hospitals. This closure would encompass federal, state, and private hospitals, and further entail the cessation of medical and dental services provided by all doctors in Zamfara State. Bello emphasized that the NMA had engaged in discussions with the Deputy Governor of the state, Mani Mumuni, to address the pertinent industrial concerns. However, these dialogues have regrettably not yielded any favorable outcomes.
Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, located in Gusau, stands as the sole state-owned tertiary medical facility entrusted with the pivotal mandate of delivering specialized medical services, advanced postgraduate training, cutting-edge research, and innovative solutions, all geared towards enhancing the well-being of the state’s populace.
The NMA has urged the government to prioritize the well-being of medical professionals in order to prevent the occurrence of brain drain.
