Doctors to commence strike in Kano on October 1

Doctors in Kano State are set to go on strike from October 1 following the government’s failure to meet their demands, according to the National Association of Government General and Medical Dental Practitioners.

The association’s secretary, Dr. Anas Hassan, announced the decision after a meeting on Friday, highlighting that the state government had not fulfilled its promises made three months ago.

Dr. Hassan said the government has yet to pay the post-COVID-19 hazard allowance, which the federal government settled for its workers in 2021. He also revealed that doctors hired by the Kano State Government in September 2023 have not been paid their salaries.

The association voiced concerns over the deteriorating state of hospitals in Kano and the shortage of critical medical equipment, which they argue hampers their ability to deliver effective healthcare.

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According to Dr. Hassan, Kano’s health sector is also grappling with a severe doctor shortage, with an estimated 20 million residents being served by just 600 doctors—resulting in a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1 to 33,000, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended standard.

The doctors say the strike is a last resort after repeated attempts to engage with the government.

In a related development, the Federal Government has set up four committees to address the demands of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), which has also threatened to strike.

The nurses are pushing for a range of reforms, including the creation of a nursing department within the Ministry of Health, an upward review of professional allowances, and the inclusion of nurses in health policy-making bodies.

Other demands include the gazetting of nurses’ schemes of service as approved in 2016, payment of salaries owed to staff at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and improved staffing and equipment in health facilities.

The Federal Government is yet to respond to the demands as the October 1 deadline for the doctors’ strike looms.

Doctors to commence strike in Kano on October 1

SUV rams into cows on busy Lagos road, crushes 2 to death

A collision involving an Acura SUV and a herd of cattle resulted in the death of two cows and considerable damage to the vehicle in Lagos.

According to a statement by Adebayo Taofiq, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the incident took place on Sunday at Iyana-Oworo, heading towards Ogudu, where the cows were crossing the road.

Taofiq explained, “An Acura SUV (AAA 818 HV) collided with two cows, resulting in the death of the animals and significant damage to the vehicle. The accident occurred today at Iyana-Oworo, inward Ogudu, where a herd of cattle were crossing the highway.”

Following the accident, LASTMA officials removed the vehicle from the road to ease traffic flow and handed it over to the police at Ogudu police station for further investigation.

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In another incident, five individuals were injured in a separate accident on the Ifako Bridge, also on Sunday. This crash involved a commercial Mazda bus and a mini-bus traveling towards the Ogudu area. Taofiq revealed that the driver of the Mazda bus was distracted while eating and lost control of the vehicle.

Preliminary investigations also showed that the crash was aggravated by a sudden brake failure, resulting in injuries to five passengers—one male and four females—from the Mazda bus.

Taofiq added, “The victims were promptly attended to, in conjunction with the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), and were transported to the Accident and Emergency Centre located near the Toll Gate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.”

LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sympathy for the victims and urged drivers, especially commercial operators, to prioritize safety and remain alert to prevent dangerous driving habits.

SUV rams into cows on busy Lagos road, crushes 2 to death

Six Katsina kidnap victims rescued in separate operations

The Katsina State Police Command has rescued six victims in two separate kidnapping incidents along the Jibia-Kauran Namoda and Funua-Gusau roads.

The command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Aliyu, announced the rescue in a statement on Saturday, attributing the success to a joint operation between police operatives and the military.

In the first incident, four victims were rescued after a gunfight with the kidnappers. One of the  victims, however, succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.

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In a separate operation at Unguwar Boka village in Faskari Local Government Area, police responded to an attempted kidnapping. While two victims were rescued unhurt, another victim was fatally shot by the assailants.