Sir: Walking into the Potiskum Specialist Hospital in the Potiskum Local Government area of Yobe state on September 14, I was filled with a sense of hope and urgency. My niece, suffering from sickle cell disease, was in dire need of medical attention. Her condition was worsening by the day, and I knew that timely intervention was crucial.
But what I witnessed that day was a distressing scene. The waiting area was packed with people, all waiting to see a doctor. The air was thick with anxiety and frustration, and I could sense the desperation in the eyes of those around me. The wait was agonizingly long. We spent three hours waiting for a doctor to arrive, watching as the minutes ticked by at a glacial pace.
My niece was crying profusely due to the excruciating pain she was suffering, and I felt helpless as I tried to comfort her. When the doctor finally arrived, the sense of relief was short-lived: I realized that the workload was simply too much for him to handle alone. The hospital was understaffed, and it showed. Potiskum, being the most populous local government area of Yobe State, deserves better. Its hospital should be equipped to handle the needs of its people, but the lack of adequate hospital personnel is a major hindrance.
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This lack has far-reaching consequences. It not only affects the patients but also the doctors and nurses who are overworked and undervalued.
Governor Mai Mala Buni, we urge you to take immediate action and employ the numerous jobless health workers in our state to cater to the growing population of Potiskum. It is unacceptable that our hospitals continue to struggle with inadequate staffing despite the abundance of qualified and eager healthcare professionals seeking employment.
The current staffing crisis is not only detrimental to the well-being of patients but also puts unbearable burden on the existing healthcare workers. They are overworked, undervalued, and at risk of burnout, which ultimately affects the quality of care they can provide. By hiring more health workers, Governor Buni, you will not only be addressing the critical staffing shortage but also injecting life into the local economy.
These new employees will contribute to the state’s economic growth, support their families, and stimulate community development. Furthermore, employing local health workers will ensure cultural sensitivity and a deeper understanding of the community’s specific needs. They will be better equipped to address the unique health challenges facing Potiskum’s population.
•Kasim Isa Muhammad,Potiskum, Yobe State.