By Itam Offor
The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA) has raised the alarm over the increasing deaths in Obubra Local Government Area (LGA) of the state following the dearth of doctors and other health professionals in Gen Hospital Obubra.
The House on Tuesday had deliberated on a motion sponsored by the Member representing Obubra 1 State Constituency, Hon Ovat Agbor, who bemoaned the critical state of the General Hospital in Obubra; said, “the current situation in Obubra Local Government Area is challenging and unsustainable, there is only one resident doctor in General Hospital Obubra.
“The doctor is overwhelmed with patient–load, leading to reduced quality of Health care, increased waiting time and high chances of misdiagnosis or oversight due to high volume of patients”.
The Obubra Lawmaker further lamented that there has been a significant increase in the number of deaths in his constituency in recent times due to the situation.
According to Agbor; “The sole resident doctor currently on duty is at risk of burnout due to the overwhelming demands for services leading to potential long-term consequences for both physicians and the patients . My community alone has lost several persons due to the situation.”
Co-sponsors of the motion including, the House Leader, Rt Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo (Odukpani), Deputy Leader,Rt Hon Davis Etta (Abi), Hon Martins Achadu (Yala 2) and Hon Bette Obi (Boki 2) as well as other Lawmakers, all lent their voices to the motion urging the State Government to prioritize the employment of more medical doctors and other medical professionals.
They also pointed out that Obubra LGA contributes greatly to food production in the State and urged the State Government to take measures to address the lack of key Medical professionals in public health facilities. They recommended the improvement of the pay package for medical doctors to induce them to stay back and work.
Consequently, the House adopted a motion calling on the State government, through the Ministry of Health to urgently deploy medical doctors as well as additional health professionals to General Hospital Obubra.
The House reiterated the urgent need to employ more Doctors and other medical professionals into the State Service who should deployed to public health facilities across the State.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem noted that the State Government has been very responsive to the resolutions of the House and expressed confidence that the matter will be addressed adequately.
