The Head, Department of Internal Medicine, with Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH) in Lokoja, Dr. Chukwudibe Rosemary, has died not been able to get medications due to non payment of salaries in the state.
Doctor, Idris Nuhu, three nurses and an attendant in the maternity ward, alleged slumped on hearing about Rosemary’s death.
It was learnt that they had not been paid since February this year.
The other staff who assisted in resuscitating the deceased doctor, said due to lack of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and spanner to open the oxygen cylinder, their effort was in vain, adding there was no oxygen head and Adrenalin.
They added that tests like H-Pylori could not be done for the patient, because the deceased had no money, as she did not receive her March salary when others were paid.
Secretary, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the hospital, Dr. Moses Adaudi, who confirmed the incident, said Rosemary’s death resulted from lack of ICU in the hospital where she could have been treated when she developed complications.
He, therefore, urged the state government to make the welfare of civil servants a priority.
Nurses told The Guardian that Dr. Rosemary was a well loved, thoroughbred professional, whose death had created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.
A source said the three nurses have been on duty since Saturday morning and have been exhausted due to severe work, which had increased in the last two months due to the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU)’s strike.
They also lamented that the condition of service was appalling, as one nurse attended to over 30 patients against the international standard of one nurse to four patients.
When contacted, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Ehalaye, confirmed the incident but said the management was on top of the situation.
The staff charged the state government to complete the installation of equipment for the diagnostic centre, which building had been completed.
