Apart from the overwhelmed Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia and its surrounding areas lack a tertiary hospital. As a result , sick residents often have to travel to Abuja, Keffi, Makurdi, or Jos to access tertiary healthcare.
Hence, the sense of elation that followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s formal approval for the establishment of the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital is understandable.
LEADERSHIP Weekend recalls that in August, President Tinubu approved the conversion of the state-owned Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital into the takeoff site for the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital, following a request from the state government.
The president stated that converting the health facility into a federal teaching hospital would improve the training of students in medical and allied sciences while enhancing healthcare delivery in the state.
This gesture from the president came approximately 19 months after former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill establishing the institution into law.
The Teaching Hospital, intended to serve as the training arm of the Federal University of Lafia, is also expected to provide tertiary healthcare services to residents.
However, the initial excitement following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the formal takeoff of the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital seems to have faded, giving way to despair and frustration as residents continue to suffer from the slow progress.
LEADERSHIP Weekend observed that the notable change in the status of the facility is the appointment of an acting Chief Medical Director (CMD) to oversee its operations, along with signposts reflecting the name change from DASH to the Teaching Hospital.
However, findings reveal that while the institution has retained the DASH staff, their salary structure has not been adjusted to reflect the changes.
More fundamentally, the host state government remains responsible for paying the staff salaries, even as they continue to carry DASH’s identity cards for identification purposes.
Residents Express Concerns
In response to the slow takeoff, some residents of the state who spoke to LEADERSHIP Weekend voiced their concerns, fearing that the conversion might turn out to be nothing more than a hollow pronouncement.
A youth leader, Usman Olagyogye Egyeginyi, told our correspondent that residents are skeptical and worried that the president’s announcement could just be political rhetoric.
He said, “We have been closely following the progress of this initiative, starting from when the bill for the establishment of the teaching hospital was presented to the National Assembly. When it successfully passed through all the necessary processes and received presidential assent, we were greatly elated.
“The key concern now is the takeoff. We are worried that there seems to be activity without progress. We are uncertain whether provisions have been made in the 2025 budget for this hospital. We therefore urge the state government to follow up with the relevant federal government officials and the presidency to ensure a speedy takeoff, he added.
CMD Reacts
The acting CMD, Dr. Ikrama Hassan, explained that while the hospital has begun operations gradually, there are still processes to be completed before it can fully take off. He assured that the necessary structures are in place to ensure smooth operations.
Dr. Hassan also confirmed that there have been no changes to staff salaries as the institution is still in a transition phase. He further noted that a joint committee, involving both the federal and state governments, is working diligently to ensure the hospital’s seamless transition to federal status.
Similarly, Dr. Idrissu Quadir, a consultant at the hospital, confirmed that his salary has not changed. He explained that he is still officially a staff member of the Nasarawa State Government, and his salary is being processed accordingly.
Dr. Quadir added that the full takeoff of the Federal Teaching Hospital Lafia is expected once the necessary policies and procedures are fully completed.
Long Road To The Actualisation Of A Dream
LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that the idea of establishing the institution was conceived by the former governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, during his tenure as the state’s chief executive.
The former governor stated this; “I conceived the idea of a Teaching Hospital in 2012 when a delegation from the Federal Government visited us for the takeoff of the Federal University of Lafia.
I took the initiative to improve the structures and equipment at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia and even built a separate, modern facility that meets the standards of a teaching hospital.
“After completing my tenure as governor, I was elected to serve as a senator. I decided to continue pursuing the vision of establishing a Teaching Hospital in Lafia to serve the University. To achieve this, I sponsored the bill for its establishment, which underwent all the required legislative processes and was passed in September 2022. I am grateful that the President recently assented to the bill.”
He emphasised that the hospital would significantly benefit both the state and the wider region by training more medical professionals and addressing the diverse health needs of the people.
In September 2021, the Senate passed the Federal University Lafia Teaching Hospital (Establishment) Bill, 2021, alongside the Federal University of Health and Medical Sciences, Iyin, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill, 2021, both of which were sent for presidential assent.