Medical doctors working with the Nasarawa State Government have appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to consider increasing their monthly hazard allowance from N5,000 to N100,000.
The doctors expressed their concern following the death of two gynaecologist consultants, Nwaru Victor and Esa Oga, who recently died of Lassa fever, after contracting the disease from an infected pregnant woman, who was rushed to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, for child delivery but later died with her unborn baby.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association in the state, Dr Emmanuel Sabo, explained that the N5,000 monthly hazard allowance was not enough following the risks associated with the profession.
He said, “Medical doctors face great risks on a daily basis while carrying out their duties. We are doing the job because we love it, especially because it concerns humanity. We know that the governor is doing his best for us and other people in the health sector, but we are appealing for more.
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“The N5,000 monthly hazard allowance is not enough for us. We will be happy if Governor Abdullahi Sule will use his good offices to increase it to N100,000 so that medical doctors in the state can meet up with their financial needs.”
Sabo also appealed to the governor to offer automatic employment to the wives of the two gynaecologist consultants, who died of Lassa fever.
He also called on the governor to offer scholarships to the children left behind by the deceased, because their wives could not solely shoulder the burden of the children’s upbringing.
“The government should sponsor the children to at least the secondary school level if not tertiary institution,” the NMA chairman added.
On his part, Chief Medical Director, DASH, Dr Hassan Ikrama, said the loss of the two doctors was a great calamity to the hospital.
He explained that the deceased were highly dedicated to their duties and good to those who worked with them.
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