Three health workers dismissed over extortion

Apr 1, 2024

—

Three employees at Kabo General Hospital have been dismissed, and three others have been suspended by the Kano State Hospitals Management Board due to allegations of extortion.

According to a statement from the Public Relations Officer of the Hospitals Management Board, Samira Suleiman, the decision was made following an unscheduled visit to the facility by the Executive Secretary of the board, Dr. Mansur Nagoda.

The statement revealed that three staff members from the X-ray unit were found charging patients N12,000 for X-rays, despite the approved hospital price being N2,000. Furthermore, there was no documentation to support these payments. As a result, the hospital was only performing fewer than 10 X-rays per week, despite having two functional X-ray batteries.

“The Executive Secretary of the board approved the immediate dismissal of the three officers on grounds of extortion of patients.

“Also, the Executive Secretary approved the suspension of the Accountant, Auditor, and Head of the laboratory for selling free HIV test kits given to facilities by the state government and were asked to report to the board headquarters for further disciplinary actions.

‘’Furthermore, the ES explained that the Labour ward was not in good condition, had no bed sheets on the beds, absence of compound officers, dumped equipment which was donated four years ago, as well as dumped COVID-19 items donated to the facility.

“The Executive Secretary, who vowed not to spare any staff found wanting, said the decision made against the affected workers should serve as a deterrent to others.

“We took an oath, so we will stick to that oath and sanitise the system.

‘’It is sad that after the state government made sure that each and every health worker is on the CONHESS salary scale, they are still exploiting innocent patients,” the statement read.

During the visit, the Executive Secretary of the board was accompanied by the DG of the Kano Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Muhammad Abbas, and the DG of the State Agency for the Control of Aids, Dr. Usman Bashir.