The Kano State chapter of the National Association of Government General and Medical Dental Practitioners has announced plans to commence an indefinite strike starting Tuesday, October 1. This decision comes in response to unmet demands by the Kano State government, a situation that has left medical practitioners with no choice but to take drastic action.
Dr. Anas Hassan, the secretary of the association in Kano, revealed this development during a press briefing where he provided details of their recent meeting. According to Dr. Hassan, the decision to strike was driven by the government’s continued failure to address key issues affecting their members.
One of the central grievances is the unresolved matter of their hazard allowances, particularly the Post-COVID-19 hazard allowance. While the Federal Government has been paying this allowance since 2021, the Kano State Government has yet to implement it for its doctors. In addition, Dr. Hassan disclosed that newly employed medical doctors, hired in September 2023 by the state government, have not received their salaries, adding to the frustration.
The association also voiced serious concerns about the deteriorating conditions of hospitals across Kano. They highlighted the lack of essential equipment and the poor state of facilities, which are impacting the quality of healthcare. Dr. Hassan emphasized the urgent need for these issues to be addressed, alongside the severe shortage of medical staff in the state.
He pointed out that Kano, with an estimated population of 20 million people, is served by just 600 doctors, resulting in an alarming doctor-to-patient ratio of one doctor for every 33,000 patients—far below the standards recommended by the World Health Organization.
In light of these challenges, the medical practitioners expressed their deep frustration, lamenting that they are left with no other option but to proceed with the indefinite strike from October 1.
