Lokoja, Nigeria – Concerned about the worsening conditions at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL), the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has once again appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, to take immediate action. The doctors warn that without urgent intervention, the hospital is at risk of total collapse.
During a peaceful protest held at the hospital on Thursday, Dr. Olushola Baoku, the immediate past Chairman of ARD, revealed that the number of doctors at the institution had drastically declined from 315 to just 43 due to poor working conditions.
Describing the hospital as a “slave camp” under the administration of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Olatunde Alabi, Baoku outlined several grievances, including the prevalence of temporary contracts renewed every two months, the absence of pension plans, lack of hazard allowances, and non-functional medical facilities. He further emphasized that the hospital was unable to manage medical emergencies, citing the tragic death of a staff member caused by power outages.
The protesting doctors also called for the immediate reinstatement of their suspended President, Dr. Jimoh Umar, whose suspension followed his advocacy for hospital reforms. Baoku alleged that despite a directive issued by the Minister of Health through the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Kachollom Shangti Daju, on December 12, 2024, ordering Dr. Umar’s reinstatement, the CMD had failed to comply.
The association has vowed to persist with its demonstrations until all their demands are met, emphasizing that the current state of the hospital poses a serious threat to both healthcare workers and patients. They have urged the federal government to take swift and decisive action to prevent the total collapse of the institution, stressing that immediate reforms and substantial investment in infrastructure and human resources are critical to restoring the hospital’s functionality and ensuring the delivery of quality medical services to the community.
