By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

The member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Saidu Musa Abdullahi, has decried the dearth of medical doctors in Niger State.

Speaking at a public hearing on the Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bida, Niger State, organized by the House Committee on Health Institutions, Abdullahi lamented that the state has a doctor population ratio of one doctor to 9,000.

The lawmaker, who sponsored the Bill, said the situation was far worse than the national average of one doctor to 4,000 population and against World Health Organization’s recommendation of 1 doctor to 600 population for effective healthcare delivery.

The lawmaker regretted that the state has an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 100 deaths per 1000 live births and an under-five mortality rate of 149 deaths per 1000 live births, a situation that could be remedied by the availability of health care experts, as doctors.

He said it is on record that Niger State is the only state in North-Central Nigeria that has no degree awarding institution in medicine and health sciences, a situation he described as unacceptable.

Read Also; ‘Only 35,000 doctors practising in Nigeria’

He said the overall objective of the Bill is to secure a national mandate to teach and train high calibre health-care professionals, provide healthcare services and to operate various schools and specialties that offer exemplary training and quality research in health care.

He said once the university comes on stream, it will provide more opportunities and fair chance for Nigerians seeking to pursue careers in the medical sciences and most importantly address medical workforce shortfall in the country.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, called on state governments to employ medical doctors in a bid to address the medical workforce shortfall and enhance effective health care delivery.

He said the country’s capacity to absorb the doctors it produces is an issue that should be addressed urgently, as there are doctors with no jobs.

He lamented that many doctors were leaving the country, saying states also a responsibility in developing the health sector because the secondary and primary level of healthcare rests actually with the state ministries.

The Minister expressed support for the Bill on the condition that the entire value chain of the health sector be reexamined.

Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the Bill, one of five considered by the Committee, seeks to alter the architecture of the nation’s public health services in ways that would improve the lives of the people, either through increasing options available for medical training or providing access to medical facilities in places where there is an evident need.

Chairman of the Committee, Pascal Obi, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Martins Oke, said it was the legislative agenda of the 9th assembly to make it it a point of duty to deal with bills before it with urgently and diligence they deserve.

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Ahmed Ketso, called for support from relevant stakeholders to ensure the Bill is passed into law.

He said the establishment of the university would go a long way to address the issue and called for all hands to be on deck to actualize it.

Former governor of the state, Babangida Aliyu, who also complained about the lack of doctors, called for more medical institutions in the state.

“We need not only this university in Niger State. We need additional universities of medical and health services, possibly two in every zone,” he said.