Gombe Legislature Conduct Oversights to General Hospitals in the State

The Legislature plays important role in fostering the development of the nation, both at the national and sub-national levels. Applying its oversight and representative functions, the Gombe State House Committee on Health and Human Services embarked on a three-day oversight visit to three General Hospitals across the three Senatorial zones of the State, namely Kaltungo, Kumo, and Bajoga General Hospitals.

Committee Members who embarked on the visit included the Chairman House Committee on Health and Human Services, the Deputy Chairman, four Committee members, two selected Honorable Members of the House, the Head of Works Department of the State House of Assembly, a representative of the State Ministry of Health and the Media Team. 

The purpose of the oversight visit was to inspect contracts executed across these Hospitals to ascertain the level and quality of work done so far, as well as the challenges facing the Hospitals in terms of service delivery.

At Kaltungo General Hospital, the Hospital management expressed their delight at the gesture, describing it as the first of its kind by the House Committee on Health.  The Hospital management however highlighted some of the challenges including inadequate human resources for health, inadequate power supply as well as insufficient equipment. The Chairman House Committee on Health in his response promised to engage all relevant parties to address the issues raised.

The Committee also expressed its delight in the quality of the ongoing work at the construction site and urged the contractors to speed up the work.  The Committee promised to do what is possible in their power to ensure funding is no longer delayed for the work.

At Kumo General Hospital, the Hospital Management informed the Committee Members that the Hospital is currently occupying a primary health care structure located within the town which is adequate to sustain general hospital. Other challenges identified were insufficient running costs, Inadequate staff, among others.

The Contractor handling the new Hospital project in his comment called on the Committee to work with the Executive to ensure that funds are released on time to enable them to deliver on time.

The Chairman of the Committee in his response promised to work with relevant authorities to mitigate the challenges.

During the visit to Bajoga General Hospital, the Medical Officer in charge of the Hospital expressed his delight at the visit by the Committee and highlighted some of the challenges faced including inadequate manpower (both medical and non-medical), inadequate funding (running cost), inadequate security (perimeter fencing and electricity), inadequate accommodation (for medical staff).

The Deputy Chairman of the committee in his response assured the hospital management of the Committee’s commitment and readiness to do the needful through resolutions, lobbying, and appropriation to address the hospital’s demands. At the construction site, the Committee expressed its delight at the level of the ongoing work. The Members called on the contractor to maintain the pace.

After the three-day oversight, the Committee observed that the new constructions/renovation awarded at the 3 health facilities are ongoing at an encouraging rate.

They also observed a gross challenge of inadequate manpower, especially of medical staff across the three facilities visited with only Kumo General Hospital having more than two Medical Doctors.

Of all the facilities visited there was a complaint of inadequate funding (running cost), particularly at Kaltungo General Hospital.

The security situation of all the Hospitals visited across the Senatorial district needs to be enhanced for optimum protection of lives and properties.

In their recommendations after the oversight visit, the House Committee on Health resolved that:

• The Honorable House should invite the Executive Secretary Hospitals Management Agency for explanations and discussion on the issues relating to the shortage of manpower across the facilities visited and how it can be resolved.
• The Honorable House should invite the Honorable Commissioner Ministry of Finance and the State Accountant General on issues relating to the release of funds to contractors working at sites visited and other health facilities across the State.
• The Honorable House should engage with His Excellency the Executive Governor for a high-level meeting on how best to address these issues militating against the health sector in the state.

Contributed by Philip Akoso (LISDEL)