6 out of 10 medical complaints is malarial in Jigawa-Health commissioner
From ISMAILA MUHAMMAD,Dutse
The Jigawa state commissioner for Health, Dr. Ibrahim Nashabaru, has lamented that available records have shown that six out of ten patients who visit hospitals in the state complain of malaria, which shows the need to fight the scourge jointly.
This statement was contained in a press release issued and signed by the public relations officer of the ministry, Alhaji Abdullahi Wada, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Dutse.
He therefore said there was the need for people to keep a clean environment so as to complement government efforts towards fighting the deadly disease, adding that although the state government has come up with strategies towards eradicating the disease, the best practice for people is to keep their environment clean by destroying all mosquito breeding places.
Dr. Nashabaru urged them to report cases of ill ness to the nearest hospital with a view to getting early treatment.
The commissioner explained further that government has set a side huge sum of money for the purchase of malarial drugs to be given free to children under the age of five and pregnant women, adding that already, residual spray of insecticide and has been carried out in Birniwa local government area will soon take place in Auyo local government area.
Other categories of citizens who receive medical treatment in the state according to him, include, accident victims, prison inmates and students, irrespective of where they come from.
On the shortage of doctors in hospitals, the commissioner stated that the state government will soon recruit qualified medical personnel to man its specialist hospital in Dutse and various health facilities across the state.
Dr. Nashabaru added that equipments for the Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital have arrived the state capital and were being installed with a view to starting full services in the hospital.
In an effort to guard against brain drain especially in the health sector, the commissioner further explained that government has provided relevant working material, accommodation, renovation of structures, construction of additional wards and reviewed salary package of health workers in the state.
On the present administration’s “reach every ward” health programme, he said all political wards in the state will have a facility with a view to taking qualitative healthcare services to the doorsteps of the rural dwellers.
Dr. Nashabaru said already 35 facilities have been constructed and that it will continue, adding also that to reduce the current high maternal mortality rate in the state, his ministry has embarked on the training of 3000 traditional birth attendants drawn from the 280 wards across the state to provide serves in their wards.
Dr. Ibrahim also explained that committees have been set up in all the eight general hospitals with a desk officer to receive complaints from patients who have been maltreated by health workers. He revealed that patients right charter will also be posted at strategic places in hospitals for further information on their rights.