For many residents of Taraba state seeking medical care in public hospitals, access to quality healthcare has become increasingly difficult.
Across several general hospitals in the state, lack of qualified medical personnel and deteriorating infrastructure are raising concerns among patients and health experts, who have warned that the situation could worsen if urgent intervention is not undertaken.
Investigations by our correspondent reveal that many healthcare facilities in the state are struggling to cope with growing patient demands amid inadequate staffing levels and poor medical infrastructure.
Residents who spoke to our correspondent described a healthcare system under strain, where patients often endure long waiting periods, delayed medical procedures and limited access to specialist care.
One of such residents, Yerima Ato of Wukari local government council, alleged that the General Hospital in Wukari lacks enough qualified doctors to adequately attend to patients.
According to him, the shortage has forced authorities to rely on medical doctors from the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Jalingo, to provide services in some of the state’s general hospitals.
“To my knowledge, doctors are being hired from the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, to cover up for the shortage of doctors in the general hospitals,” Ato said.
He recounted his personal experience, describing how a scheduled surgery was delayed because the required medical personnel were unavailable at the hospital.
“There was a time I was scheduled for surgery at the general hospital, but I had to wait for the doctors to come from the FMC. So, the same doctors you find at the FMC are the ones you find in the general hospitals,” he said.
For many residents, the situation raises questions about the capacity of public hospitals to provide timely and efficient healthcare services, especially in emergency situations where delays could have life-threatening consequences.
Another resident, Hajara Thomas, said hospitals in Takum, Ussa, Gassol, Gashaka, Bali and several other local government areas face similar difficulties.
According to her, many communities depend heavily on general hospitals and primary healthcare centres, making the shortage of doctors and other healthcare professionals a major concern.
She called on the state government to embark on aggressive recruitment of doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and other health workers to bridge existing gaps in healthcare delivery.
“Our hospitals need more qualified personnel. People in rural communities deserve quality healthcare just like those living in urban centres,” she said.
Beyond manpower shortages, stakeholders have also identified poor infrastructure as a major factor affecting healthcare delivery in the state.
Supporting the position of the aforementioned respondents, a resident of Lau local government council who also decried the bad condition of the only government hospital in the council, said despite the aray of politicians from the council, accessing healthcare has become cumbersome to the people due to dilapidated structure and absence of medical personnel in the government facility.
A health expert,John Mayo, noted that many public hospitals operate in aging structures with inadequate facilities and obsolete equipment.
According to him, the poor state of infrastructure not only affects patient care but also discourages healthcare workers from accepting postings to some facilities.
“When healthcare facilities are poorly maintained and lack essential equipment, it becomes difficult for medical personnel to perform optimally. This ultimately affects the quality of service patients receive,” Mayo explained.
He stressed the need for government investment in the rehabilitation of hospitals, provision of modern medical equipment and improvement of working conditions for healthcare professionals.
Healthcare analysts say the challenges facing Taraba health sector reflect a broader national problem, where many states struggle with lack of healthcare workers due to migration, retirement and inadequate recruitment.
The situation has been compounded by increasing demand for healthcare services, population growth and limited funding for public health institutions.
Experts argue that strengthening primary healthcare centres, improving welfare packages for medical personnel and investing in modern healthcare infrastructure could significantly improve healthcare outcomes in the state.
For residents, however, the concern is immediate and personal. Many fear that unless urgent action is taken, access to quality healthcare will remain beyond the reach of thousands of citizens who depend on public hospitals for treatment.
Residents are urging the Taraba state government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize healthcare reforms, recruit additional medical personnel and upgrade hospital infrastructure to ensure efficient and accessible healthcare services across the state.
The state government is yet to react to this development, even after our reporters effort to get official reaction failed.
Taraba healthcare under strain amid shortage of doctors, poor infrastructure