By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto
SOKOTO — The Chief Medical Director of Sokoto Specialist Hospital, Dr Attahiru Isa Sokoto, has dismissed as false and misleading claims circulating on social media alleging that doctors were absent from the hospital’s Emergency Ward.
The controversy followed a viral social media post questioning the presence of medical personnel at the state-owned tertiary health facility and raising concerns over the alleged absence of doctors when emergency medical attention was required.
But in a statement issued in Sokoto on Sunday, the CMD described the allegation as a distortion of facts capable of causing unnecessary panic among patients and members of the public who depend on the hospital for critical medical services.
Attahiru said the Emergency Ward and other critical departments of the hospital remained fully operational and adequately staffed, with doctors, nurses and other health workers providing round-the-clock services.
“For the avoidance of doubt, doctors, nurses and other health workers are on duty at the Emergency Ward of Sokoto Specialist Hospital round the clock,” he said.
He explained that the hospital operates a structured duty roster designed to ensure uninterrupted medical services, stressing that no patient had been denied treatment because of shortage or absence of personnel.
“We have a functional duty roster and no patient has been denied care due to lack of personnel,” he said, urging the public to disregard contrary claims.
According to the CMD, the doctor on call when the individual who posted the viral video visited the hospital had spent the night at the facility but briefly left to observe the early morning prayer.
“The doctor on call as at the time of the visit of the person who posted the viral video, who slept at the hospital, had just gone to observe the early morning prayer and was never absent or truant,” Attahiru explained.
The CMD also credited the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto with what he described as significant investments aimed at repositioning the hospital.
He said the facility had received additional medical personnel, modern equipment and infrastructural upgrades to improve its capacity to provide efficient and timely healthcare services to residents.
“The present administration has invested heavily in the health sector. Sokoto Specialist Hospital now boasts of modern equipment and adequate manpower to cater for the health needs of our people,” he said.
Attahiru urged residents to exercise caution and verify sensitive information before sharing it on social media, warning that unverified allegations concerning emergency medical services could create unnecessary panic and undermine public confidence in healthcare institutions.
“We advise the public to verify information and channel complaints through the appropriate hospital authorities instead of resorting to social media to spread falsehood,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to providing uninterrupted emergency and specialist medical services and urged members of the public with genuine complaints to approach the management for prompt investigation and resolution.
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