Patients decry staff shortage at Gombe hospital
Many families caring for people with mental health conditions are travelling hundreds of kilometers across the North-East to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital in search of treatment. Many of them attribute their decision to quality of care, experienced specialists and improved medical facilities. While many of the patients and their families said the facility had […]
Families of those with mental health issues are traveling long distances to Gombe State Specialist Hospital for treatment, citing the quality of care, experienced specialists, and improved facilities as key reasons for their journey. Patients and their families praise the hospital for restoring hope in their loved ones' recovery.
Zulaihat Sa’ad's husband, Yakubu Adamu, who disappeared and returned severely mentally ill after a three-day search, showed remarkable improvement after nine days of treatment. The family spent approximately N300,000 on medical expenses but expressed no regret due to the significant improvement in his condition. Khadija Muhammad, who traveled from Adamawa State with her 25-year-old son, Ibrahim Muhammad, also found the hospital's dedication to patient care invaluable.
However, the increasing influx of patients from neighboring states is straining the hospital's limited manpower and infrastructure. A nursing staff member, Asheer Zakayo, highlighted the mental health unit's daily intake of over 100 patients, including new cases and follow-up treatments, calling for more doctors, psychiatric nurses, and hospital expansions to accommodate the growing demand.
The single consultant psychiatrist serving Gombe State, Dr. Shittu Amaya Pisahgi, emphasized the hospital's crucial role as a referral center for patients from Gombe and neighboring states, including Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe, and parts of Borno. He called for the recruitment of more healthcare professionals to alleviate the heavy workload and stressed the need for additional beds, modern facilities, and free psychiatric medicines to reduce financial burdens on patients and their families.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
