I want to appeal to the Bauchi State government, the Ministry of Health, the state’s Hospital Management Board as well as the Department of State Security (DSS) to urgently verify and disclose to the public the recent allegation of the diversion of Toro General Hospital’s sophisticated equipment to an unknown destination for auction.
This came as a result of the ongoing controversies generated among Toro populace that there are unscrupulous elements who are auctioning the hospital equipment through the backdoor, claiming to have gotten permission from the state government.
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What bothers the public is how could government of the day order an auction of sophisticated hospital equipment without providing an alternative?
Consequently, the equipment auctioned have added to the people’s predicament in Toro Local Government Area and beyond, as the facility has been shared by nearly four local governments despite the equipment deficit the hospital had been experiencing.
Presently, people have to rush to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and the Specialist Hospital all in Bauchi metropolis from Toro and other villages to get adequate medical attention.
Considering the above, we want the Bauchi State government, Ministry of Health, as well as the state Hospital Management Board to tell the public whether the alleged auction of Toro General Hospital equipment was done with authorisation or not. That is to say, if the state government is aware of the auction.
We urging the government to come to our aid by providing the hospital with another set of equipment.
However, if the auction was not authorized by the government, we urge the state government, Hospital Management Board as well as the DSS to embark on a thorough investigation and bring those involved in the act to book.
The primary responsibility of the government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
Muhammad Al’ameen lives in Toro LGA, Bauchi State