Death is generating a lot of controversies as mass exodus of medical doctors hits the Kogi state specialist hospital over the poor welfare package and non -payment of salaries and other emoluments, many observers would be quick to link the development to the strange death of a senior female doctor, Rosemary Chukwudebe, at the Kogi state Specialist Hospital, last week.
Although many civil servants and pensioners of Kogi state in the last two years have suffered untimely death occasioned by alleged non -payment of salaries that hindered them from attending to their daily financial obligations.
However, this ugly situation prompted the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Kogi state chapter, to embark on strike action in January 7, 2018, having suspended an earlier strike in the month of June, 2017.
Apparently, the association had made concerted effort in ensuring that the industrial action be sustained until their minimum wage and other demands are met.
Union’s demands Some of the Union’s demands include; the payment of the balance of 40 per cent salary arrears from August to December 2017 and the payment of 100 per cent salaries and arrears for January and February 2018, as well as the implementation of the Revised CONMESS, among others.
Alas, the strike action no doubt crippled activities of the health sector in the state until the intervention of the traditional rulers that led to the calling off of the strike by the union leaders.
Also sadly, the January 2018 strike which lingered on for upward of seventy days was also halted by the President of the association, Professor Mike Ogirima who happened to be a kinsman of state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Promises not kept However, the effort of the national president of NMA seems to have ended up in the waste bin, as the state government could not fulfil any of its promises to the striking medical doctors till date.
Despite Professor Ogirima’s appeal to the state government to see reason for improved welfare of the doctors, none of them in the hospital was paid January salary, except the newly employed ones who were owed about six months salaries.
Mass resignation of medical doctors Irked by the persistent non payment of salaries, those who could not bear the situation were said to have resigned from the hospital to seek better offers within and outside the country.
A source in the hospital told Blueprint without mincing words that the hospital has lost the service of at least 15 of its very senior doctors , and 10 others have also concluded their exist plans by the end of June, 2018.
Obviously, the recent death of a female doctor has exposed the can of worms in the state’s owned hospital, especially in the areas of medical equipment, maintenance and the welfare of the staff.
Blueprint reliably gathered that the late medical doctor Mrs Rosemary Chukwudebe was a pioneer staff and the head of department of the family unit of the hospital.
Dr Chukwudebe as she was fondly called by colleagues and other staff in the hospital was a mother of four children, who had survived asthma for over 40 years.
She was said to have survived the ailment through constant usage of drugs and other necessary medications.
But luck ran out of her when in the last two years it was no longer easy for her to get the necessary drugs meant for her ailment, as salary was no longer coming as at when due which posed a lot of financial challenges to her, in addition to payment of her children school fees and other family responsibilities that fell on her shoulder.
Our correspondent gathered that the deceased doctor was unable to meet up with the necessary medications to manage her declining health being afflicted by the asthma attack as she was said to have received salary last in February, 2018, until her death that “black” Monday.
Death could have been averted One of the doctors in the hospital who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the death of Dr Rosemary could have been averted if only the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) had the required facilities.
According to him “When she was brought to the hospital from her house at Lokongoma, Phase 2, Lokoja on a stretcher, on Friday evening, she survived the first and second attack, but succumbed to the hand of death on the third one.
“We tried all the medical tricks to revive her after the third attack, but to no avail due to the absence of some drugs and key medical equipment needed in the intensive care unit of the hospital.
The reinforcement of Doctors from Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, could not safe her life.
“Even effort to open oxygen gas cylinder to administer it to her, also proved abortive as there was no spanner to open the cylinder at that point of need and by the time we are able to succeed in opening the oxygen cylinder, our colleague was clinically dead.
“Sadly, when we wanted to apply suction machine to clear mucous or foaming from her mouth and nostril to ease respiration, it was not available in the hospital.
Also, no money to buy adrenalin drug to carry out some tests on her as we discovered that her Bank account had no money.” Death triggered confusion Surprisingly, the death of Dr Chukwudebe triggered confusion in the hospital as three nurses and a doctor who were on duty in the ward that particular time slumped, with one relapsing to coma.
The collapsed Doctor, Idris Nuhu did not get his march salary alert till date, just like late Chukwudebe.
Meanwhile, the Kogi state government has reacted to the death of Dr Chukwudebe, describing the deceased as a hard working staff of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
Kogi government reacts in a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu, the government said it gathered that the deceased doctor had been battling unmentioned health challenges prior to her death, claiming that the deceased doctor was never denied access to health care service even if she was unable to pay.
According to him, “The Ministry of Health will collaborate with the family over the burial arrangement as well as ensuring that other areas of assistance by the state government is given a deserving attention.
The entire people of the state will miss her invaluable service,” NMA’s rage Commenting on the shocking death, the Kogi state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association said the association is not unaware that the deceased was not paid the March salary, including some other doctorsdoctors, saying “we cannot categorically say it was the cause of her death, but it cannot be ruled out. Investigation is ongoing and we will let the whole world know our findings”.
In a statement issued by the Kogi state Chairman of the association Dr Godwin Tijani, on the death of their colleague, the Chairman described the sudden death of Dr Chukwudebe as a sad moments for Kogi medical world, and lamented that the welfare of doctors has been perpetually neglected by the authority.
According to him, “NMA has lost a great physician. She was hardworking and dedicated to her duty up till her death. She will be greatly missed by all. I pray God almighty will give the Kogi medical world and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
Dr Tijani however appealed to the Kogi state government to prioritise the welfare of doctors in the state, and improve on the facilities in the hospitals as well as give support to the family of Dr Chukwudebe.
Credit: Blueprint
