Sokoto: CMD Specialists Hospital denies claims of absence of doctors at the emergency department

Sidi A Umar

The Chief Medical Director of Sokoto Specialist Hospital, Dr Attahiru Isa Sokoto, has denied claims circulating on social media that there are no doctors on duty in the hospital’s emergency department.

The clarification comes after a viral post questioned “the use of the Health Commissioner” following allegations that the state’s largest government-owned hospital lacked medical staff in the emergency department.

In a statement issued in Sokoto on Sunday, Dr Attahiru Isa Sokoto described the allegations as false and misleading.

He said the hospital’s emergency and other critical units are fully staffed and operate 24 hours a day.

“For the avoidance of doubt, doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are on duty 24 hours a day at the emergency department of the Sokoto Specialist Hospital.

“We have a functional duty list and no patient has been denied treatment due to lack of staff,” said Dr Attahiru Isa Sokoto.

He added that the doctor on duty at the time of the visit of the person who posted the viral video, who was sleeping in the hospital, had just gone to observe early morning prayers and was never absent or truant.

The CMD maintained that the state government, under the able leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, had transformed the hospital into a world-class facility.

He insisted that the administration inherited the hospital from the last administration when it was in a comatose situation.

According to Isa Sokoto, the hospital has now been fully equipped with additional assorted medical staff and ultra-modern healthcare equipment, while its overall infrastructure has been completely renovated, modernizing the building.

“The current administration has invested heavily in the healthcare sector. The Sokoto Specialist Hospital now boasts of modern equipment and adequate manpower to meet the healthcare needs of our people,” he added.

He urged members of the public to ignore what he called “malicious and baseless allegations” aimed at causing panic and undermining government efforts in the health sector.

“We advise the public to verify information and channel complaints through the relevant hospital authorities instead of resorting to social media to spread falsehoods,” he said.