The looming health crisis in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) draws attention once again to the systemic neglect of frontline healthcare workers, especially at the primary care level.
Development Diaries reports that doctors under the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) FCT branch have warned that a healthcare crisis in the FCT’s area councils could spiral out of control if their demands are not met.
According to media reports, the association is demanding the immediate implementation of the approved minimum wage, improved working conditions, and better healthcare infrastructure across the six area councils of the FCT.
With doctors in the six area councils still unpaid under the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage, despite presidential assent in July 2024, the resulting industrial action has dire implications for public health.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio stands at approximately 1:5,000, far below the recommended 1:600, highlighting the critical need to retain and support available health professionals, particularly those serving underserved communities.
A statement signed by the association’s chairman, Okoreaffia Ogbonnaya read, ‘Our members continue to work under deplorable and unsafe conditions, with inadequate staffing, lack of essential tools, medical supplies, and insufficient support systems.
‘The poor state of health infrastructure within the Area Councils is alarming, with dilapidated facilities and a severe lack of necessary equipment, hindering the delivery of quality healthcare services to the residents’.
More saddening is the inaction by the area council chairmen.
The continued failure of area council chairmen to implement national policy constitutes a breach of labour rights. It also threatens the well-being of FCT residents who rely on public healthcare facilities.
As the doctors noted, deteriorating infrastructure, lack of medical supplies, and understaffing already compromise patient care.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2023, maternal mortality in Nigeria remains one of the highest globally at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, with a significant portion of these deaths occurring in rural and peri-urban areas like those covered by the Area Councils.
Strategic collaboration with NAGGMDP and other relevant stakeholders is essential to restoring trust and ensuring continuity of care.
To avert a full-blown crisis, Development Diaries calls on the chairmen of the six Area Councils to act without delay. Immediate implementation of the minimum wage, coupled with visible improvements in working conditions and infrastructure, is a public health necessity.
Photo source: U.S Rick Scavetta
