Relatives of patients admitted to some general hospitals in Kano have urged the government to renovate the hospitals, provide modern equipment, and hire more staff to improve services.

They also stressed the need to ensure a constant supply of water and electricity in the facilities.

They gave the advice in separate interviews at Gwagwarwa and Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.

Asiya Auwal, a mother of four, who brought her child to Gwagwarwa General Hospital, said patients sometimes experience long waiting periods due to the limited number of healthcare workers at the facility.

“The hospital serves many people from surrounding communities, and the available doctors and other health workers are doing their best, but need more doctors and other staff to meet the growing healthcare needs of residents,” she said.

Ms Auwal also noted that irregular water supply remains another challenge, adding that water is essential for maintaining cleanliness and supporting healthcare services.

She explained that caregivers occasionally have to source water from outside the facility.

“We appreciate the services being provided, but a more consistent water supply will greatly improve convenience and hygiene within the hospital,” she said

A man who identified himself as Malam Muhammad, whose infant baby was on admission in the facility, said there are challenges of oxygen, bed space and water supply.

“Lack of equipment to meet the demands of the patients is the major challenge,” he said.

He alleged that the facility sometimes refers patients to private hospitals due to inadequate equipment.

In a statement on measures being taken to address challenges in government hospitals, Samira Suleman, spokesperson of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board (HMB), said two high-powered management teams have been inaugurated to monitor and evaluate the condition of all secondary healthcare facilities across the state.

Ms Suleman said the initiative aims to strengthen accountability, promote service excellence, and ensure adherence to professional medical standards.

She explained that the exercise would provide a platform for direct engagement with healthcare workers to identify and resolve operational challenges within the facilities.

According to her, Team A would be chaired by the executive secretary, with directors from administration, pharmacy, and laboratory services and representatives from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and other professional bodies as members.

“Team B would be headed by the director of medical services, while members would include nursing leadership, director of accounts, and representatives from various health-related unions and associations.

“Both teams have been mandated to assess service quality, staff discipline, and workforce productivity across all secondary health institutions in the state,” she explained.

She said the teams would evaluate the functionality of medical equipment and infrastructure, and the availability of essential drugs and laboratory consumables, among other factors, to determine necessary action.

In Kaduna, where citizens also called for greater commitment to healthcare, the state government said it has begun work on some of its 32 general hospitals across 23 local government areas.

The commissioner for information, Ahmed Maiyaki, said 14 general hospitals have been attended to under phase one of the rehabilitation and remodelling of the hospitals by the Governor Uba Sani administration.

According to him, the majority of the hospitals have been completed and remodelled to meet minimum standards, based on international best practice.

“The hospitals have been provided with ambulances and solar systems to ensure a 24-hour power supply.

“There’s also additional wards and quarters for health workers to ensure improved service delivery.

“Under phase two, six hospitals have also been selected,” he said.

The commissioner also said that a 300-bed specialist hospital, renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Hospital, has been completed.

It was initiated in 2009 but was abandoned until it was completed by the administration of Uba Sani.

According to him, the hospital provides state-of-the-art equipment that will end medical tourism abroad and also ensure specialist services to our people.

He also said that the state government had selected one primary health care centre per ward to be rehabilitated, with approval for the recruitment of 9,000 health workers, of whom 1,800 have been recruited in 2025, with more to be recruited this year. 

(NAN)