CSOs in Bauchi laments over shortage of manpower in health sector

The Forum of Executive Directors of Civil Society Organisations in Bauchi State has lamented over the shortage of manpower in the state’s health sector stressing that only 109 nurses are working in government hospitals across the state.

The Forum which is a coalition of leaders of over 40 registered Non-Governmental, Community Based and Faith-Based Organisations operating in Bauchi state, said that no fewer than 1,208 are required in the health sector across the state, but it was saddening that what is available is less than 10 per cent.

The Chairman of the Forum, Sodangi Chindo, stated this during an ‘end of year meeting and press briefing’ by the CSO-EDs Forum held at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bauchi.

He called on the state government to lift the embargo on employment, particularly in the health sector, saying that it is long overdue.

He said, “We call on the government to consolidate on its gains and not just make budgetary allocations, but releases should be made so that project and programme executions can be made. A situation where budget allocation to health is dwindling is very sad. For 2020, 15 per cent was allocated and in 2021, around 13 per cent and now, we’re even hearing that it is even down to 10.5 per cent which is very sad.

“We see this as a very big challenge, we want the government to be able to sustain these budgetary allocations, the 15 per cent but when it is dwindling, it is not good because the donors that support Bauchi see a commitment in the government but when it dwindles, they’ll start doubting the commitment.

“A situation where we don’t employ adequate human resources especially for health has negative consequences for our people’s health and our partners’ confidence. You know we have a very big challenge especially for human resources in the health sector. Our major concern is human resources all over.

“I give you a simple example, the number of nurses we need to function maximally in Bauchi State is at least 1,208 across our health facilities, but I tell you that currently, we’re running with just less than 10 per cent because what we have is just 109 nurses.

“This is just one example of nurses and you have the picture of what is playing out. That’s why when you go to these health facilities, you’ll see one person taking the workload of 10 people, how can their attitude improve?”