The Southeast chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called for a state of emergency at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba.
The leader, Dr. Chijioke Udu, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the call became necessary following rot in the institution.
He urged the government to address challenges that reduced the institution to an unfortunate level, saying a state of emergency would salvage it.
Udu said the situation at ABSUTH was so bad that no one would take his dear ones there.
“It is very critical. You cannot even afford ordinary hand gloves.
“There is decay in the facilities there and the workers who are trying to salvage what is left are asked to go hungry due to non-payment of salaries,” he said.
Udu said there was no tertiary health facility in the zone with no issues.
“But there are ones you can overlook while the situations are getting out of hand in others.
“As a caucus, we will not allow our members to be victimised for the offence they did not commit.
“You cannot ask people to work for four months without salaries and expect them to give their best. Patients cannot even get the basic things they are supposed to get,” he said.
“Workers in ABSUTH have been having salary issues for months. Anytime the government clears debts, they will accumulate another one.
“This is why patients are not getting the best at the centre,” Udu said.
He said the only functional tertiary health centre in the state, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, was overburdened because of the rot at ABSUTH.
“We appeal to the government to ensure normalcy returns to the facility. Workers should enjoy the benefits of their services,” Udu said.
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