7pm : Commissioner Pays Working Visit to IBB Specialist Hospital

The Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril on Wednesday paid an unannounced inspection visit to the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna.

The Commissioner's 7pm shocking visit was part of the ongoing enforcement of the state of emergency recently declared in the health sector by Mr. Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.

While interacting with patients and health wormers on duty, Dr. Jibril noted that, the present administration is worried by the apparent paucity of manpower at health facilities even when the payroll seem to indicate otherwise.

He disclosed that, government is presently conducting a needs assessment of all the secondary heath care facilities with a view to identifying critical interventions to address the inadequacies and improve quality of care and patient satisfaction.

The workers who were visibly happy upon sighting the Commissioner, informed the latter that the hospital is grappling with serious problems of staff shortages, inadequate infrastructure and equipment as well as lack of ambulance.

Dr. Jibril expressed satisfaction with the level of dedication shown by the hospital staff who he met right on the spot actively attending to their patients at the time of his visit.

The Commissioner disclosed that, the implementation of 100% CONMESS and CONHESS recently approved by government will commence in January, 2017 while additional 300 health care providers will soon be recruited to boost the existing workforce in the state so as to ease the heavy patient load being experienced currently.

As part of efforts to reposition the IBB Specialist Hospital which is the only state owned tertiary health facility, about 300 million naira has been approved for its renovation, adding that, work will commence as soon as the Ministry receives the necessary cash backing, the Commissioner disclosed.

Dr. Jibril urged the workers to reciprocate government's good gestures by rededicating themselves to duty while warning them to eschew any form of sharp practices, as government is ever ready to wield the big stick against anybody found wanting.