By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Sabon Tasha General hospital Kaduna has confirmed the recent publication by Daybreak Nigerua over the lack of electricity, fuel and doctor when a patient on an emergency was taken to the facility around 7- 7: 30pm on Saturday.
The patient, Mr. Linus Bulus who resides along Katuka road, near Foresight int’l school, Ungwan Boro, Sabon Tasha, Chikun LGA of the Kaduna, reportedly slumped on Saturday 11th May 2024 and was rushed to the hospital in coma.
According to the family source, Mr. Linus was immediately rushed to the general hospital in critical condition only to be told that there was no light, no fuel and no doctor on call
He was later referred to St. Gerard Catholic hospital some kilometer away but later died in Barau Dikko teaching hospital inside Kaduna main town 3 days later.
The 36 years old man was married with a wife and two kids, operating a Barbing Saloon and was a student of Kaduna Polytechnic before he died.
Reacting to the news reports on Wednesday, Doctor Kemi of Sabon Tasha general hospital, in a phone call she initiated said they are not happy working under a very harsh condition without payment of salary to Doctor for months.
Our correspondent had earlier on Monday called and also sent an SMS to Doctor Kemi to assist him with the hospital’s Medical Director’s number to verify the incident but she neither picked, returned nor replied the text message.
Though Mrs. Kemi later replied a day later through SMS, requesting to know the caller, and our reporter replied and introduced himself as a journalist in like manner through SMS.
Surprisingly, on Wednesday 15th may 2024, in the afternoon, Kemi now returned the call asking and requesting to know our reporter and why her name was mention in the news report on the incident in the hospital.
She said “Is it Mr. Gabriel? I couldn’t really remember. I think it was last year or so we saw. You sent me message yesterday asking for MD’s number. Why were you asking for it sir, if I may ask? she asked.
After introducing himself, Kemi demanded to know why the author of the news publication on the hospital used her name?
“So, are you the one that put up that publication? Why did you put it without finding out exactly what happen.
“My name was mention there for something I no absolutely nothing about. Do u know the implication of what you’ve done? You did not get in touch with me. When did you speak with me. I was not even the doctor on call duty that day. I was in my house. If this thing get to MD and my life is at stake I’ll sue you”, she threatened.
“You put my name in the reports. The reason you had my number is because I was trying to save your daughters life. I didn’t remember you are the one because I did not save your number.
“That’s why I said who’s this when I replied you yesterday Tuesday, because I cannot give you information without knowing who you are”, she said.
“When i saw your message I replied. I replied you and introduce myself to you with my name and my nature of work as a journalist”, our reporter responded.
Kemi now blows open “You think as a doctor I’m happy working under this harsh condition? Do you know for how many months, I’ve been working here without been paid.
Don’t I have family and bills to pay? I’ll appreciate you pull down the publication if not, you’ll receive latter from my lawyer. I don’t appreciate this at all.
“The MD is not going to take it lightly, even the ministry. I was not on call that day. So I don’t appreciate my name been on that publication for whatever reason. No light, no fuel or water in hospital, is that my fault ?
“You know we are in Kaduna state, you know the ministry should be responsible for this. When Doctors went on strike for this purpose, where were you?. We’re not happy working under this conditions but you know that we’re human being too.
“I’m working under the ministry, i can’t talk to you directly. The allegations implicated doctor and MD. Even if you have my number, you would’ve come to the office and confirm this things.
“You did not contact me, you only sent me message yesterday Tuesday, I’ve the evidence. On issue of your call, I’ve so many miss calls on my phone. I did not save your number and there was miss calls and don’t know anything about that.
“So you have no right to put up any publication without getting in touch with me. After you sent a message and I replied. I’m a doctor I could be in the theater. I was in theatre yesterday, Tuesday, should I leave what I was doing in saving a patient life, my major duty, to respond to your call?
“So you know the reason I didn’t pick your call. I’m a doctor, I’ve a life to live, I’m a human been before doctor. So how can you publish without confirming from me?
“I responded yesterday Tuesday, saying who’s this. I didn’t know who was texting me asking for MD’s number. I need to know.
“You should pull down the publication because I’ve no business, if there was no light, water, doctor in the hospital. I’m not working under such harsh condition happy”, she concluded.
