For many residents of Taraba state seeking medical care in public hospitals, access to quality healthcare has become increasingly difficult.

Across several general hospitals in the state, lack of qualified medical personnel and deteriorating infrastructure are raising concerns among patients and health experts, who have warned that the situation could worsen if urgent intervention is not undertaken.

Investigations by our correspondent reveal that many healthcare facilities in the state are struggling to cope with growing patient demands amid inadequate staffing levels and poor medical infrastructure.

Residents who spoke to our correspondent described a healthcare system under strain, where patients often endure long waiting periods, delayed medical procedures and limited access to specialist care.

One of such residents, Yerima Ato of Wukari local government council, alleged that the General Hospital in Wukari lacks enough qualified doctors to adequately attend to patients.

According to him, the shortage has forced authorities to rely on medical doctors from the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Jalingo, to provide services in some of the state’s general hospitals.

“To my knowledge, doctors are being hired from the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, to cover up for the shortage of doctors in the general hospitals,” Ato said.

He recounted his personal experience, describing how a scheduled surgery was delayed because the required medical personnel were unavailable at the hospital.

“There was a time I was scheduled for surgery at the general hospital, but I had to wait for the doctors to come from the FMC. So, the same doctors you find at the FMC are the ones you find in the general hospitals,” he said.

For many residents, the situation raises questions about the capacity of public hospitals to provide timely and efficient healthcare services, especially in emergency situations where delays could have life-threatening consequences.

Another resident, Hajara Thomas, said hospitals in Takum, Ussa, Gassol, Gashaka, Bali and several other local government areas face similar difficulties.

According to her, many communities depend heavily on general hospitals and primary healthcare centres, making the shortage of doctors and other healthcare professionals a major concern.

She called on the state government to embark on aggressive recruitment of doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists and other health workers to bridge existing gaps in healthcare delivery.

“Our hospitals need more qualified personnel. People in rural communities deserve quality healthcare just like those living in urban centres,” she said.

Beyond manpower shortages, stakeholders have also identified poor infrastructure as a major factor affecting healthcare delivery in the state.

Supporting the position of the aforementioned respondents, a resident of Lau local government council who also decried the bad condition of the only government hospital in the council, said despite the aray of politicians from the council, accessing healthcare has become cumbersome to the people due to dilapidated structure and absence of medical personnel in the government facility.

A health expert,John Mayo, noted that many public hospitals operate in aging structures with inadequate facilities and obsolete equipment.

According to him, the poor state of infrastructure not only affects patient care but also discourages healthcare workers from accepting postings to some facilities.

“When healthcare facilities are poorly maintained and lack essential equipment, it becomes difficult for medical personnel to perform optimally. This ultimately affects the quality of service patients receive,” Mayo explained.

He stressed the need for government investment in the rehabilitation of hospitals, provision of modern medical equipment and improvement of working conditions for healthcare professionals.

Healthcare analysts say the challenges facing Taraba health sector reflect a broader national problem, where many states struggle with lack of healthcare workers due to migration, retirement and inadequate recruitment.

The situation has been compounded by increasing demand for healthcare services, population growth and limited funding for public health institutions.

Experts argue that strengthening primary healthcare centres, improving welfare packages for medical personnel and investing in modern healthcare infrastructure could significantly improve healthcare outcomes in the state.

For residents, however, the concern is immediate and personal. Many fear that unless urgent action is taken, access to quality healthcare will remain beyond the reach of thousands of citizens who depend on public hospitals for treatment.

Residents are urging the Taraba state government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize healthcare reforms, recruit additional medical personnel and upgrade hospital infrastructure to ensure efficient and accessible healthcare services across the state.

The state government is yet to react to this development, even after our reporters effort to get official reaction failed.

Lagos State Safety Commission has called on operators of hotels, nightclubs, event centres, lounges, restaurants and other hospitality businesses to reinforce health and safety protocols following recent global alerts on Ebola outbreaks reported in parts of Central and East Africa.

The advisory comes amid heightened biosecurity screening measures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, although no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease has been recorded in Lagos State or anywhere in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists, the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, said the precautionary directive became necessary due to Lagos’ position as a major international gateway and commercial hub.

According to the commission, the advisory was prompted by recent global health notifications concerning Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa and the Federal Government’s decision to strengthen health surveillance and screening procedures at the nation’s busiest airport.

The statement read: “Following the recent global health declarations regarding the Ebola virus outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa and the subsequent strengthening of biosecurity screening protocols by the Federal Government at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, has issued a critical precautionary advisory directed at all owners, operators, and managers of hospitality and social establishments across the state.

“The Commission strongly emphasises that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola within Lagos State or Nigeria; however, the city’s status as a major international travel hub and commercial epicentre necessitates immediate, proactive measures to safeguard residents and visitors alike.”

Mojola noted that facilities that accommodate large gatherings and close human interaction must take the lead in implementing preventive measures to minimise potential public health risks.

He directed operators of hotels, lounges, event centres, restaurants and nightclubs to immediately restore hand hygiene stations equipped with running water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitisers at entrances and other strategic locations within their premises.

The safety commission also urged establishments to intensify cleaning and disinfection routines, particularly on frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, handrails, countertops, payment terminals and menus, using approved hospital-grade disinfectants.

The statement further advised management teams to train staff members to identify early symptoms of illness, conduct routine health checks and ensure any employee exhibiting signs of fever or sickness stays away from work.

“He enjoined all establishments to significantly increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection routines, utilising hospital-grade disinfectants on all high-touch surfaces such as countertops, door handles, handrails, menus, and payment terminals.

“Furthermore, he urged management teams to properly train front-of-house, housekeeping, and security personnel to recognise early symptoms of illness, implement daily health checks for staff, and enforce a strict stay-at-home policy for any employee exhibiting signs of fever,” the statement added.

The commission also instructed hospitality operators to designate temporary isolation areas within their facilities where any guest or staff member showing signs of severe illness can be safely kept pending medical attention.

In addition, venue operators were encouraged to regulate crowd density and maintain adequate ventilation in enclosed spaces to reduce health risks.

Mojola urged operators to remain calm, vigilant and cooperative, noting that safety officials would intensify monitoring and compliance inspections across the state.

He added that any suspected case involving severe fever or illness should be immediately isolated and reported through designated Lagos State emergency health channels.

“Any suspected medical emergency involving severe fever or illness must be immediately isolated and reported to the official Lagos State health hotlines at 08023169485, 08033565529 or 07000SAFETY,” the statement stated.