Nurses and midwives in Katsina State have issued an ultimatum to the state government, threatening to withdraw their services from hospitals in high-risk areas if urgent measures are not taken to address rising insecurity.
Under the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the health workers gave the government until midnight on Thursday, January 30, to meet their demands or face a strike in security-prone council areas.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, NANNM Chairman in Katsina, Nurse Nura Mu’azu, highlighted the council areas most affected by insecurity.
These include Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Jibia, Dutsinma, Musawa, Malumfashi, Funtua, and Batagrawa.
According to Mu’azu, nurses and midwives working in these regions have suffered greatly, with several losing their lives, being injured, or abducted while performing their duties.
He cited a recent incident on January 15, when Nurse Yusuf Mairuwa and other health workers were abducted at the General Hospital in Kankara.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded hundreds of millions in ransom.
The association accused the state government of failing to act on earlier calls for enhanced security in hospitals and healthcare centers in these frontline areas.
Mu’azu acknowledged some progress in addressing insecurity across the state but stressed that more must be done to protect healthcare workers.
The association outlined its key demands, including:
Immediate deployment of 24/7 robust security to all hospitals in the affected areas.
Ensuring the safe release of Nurse Yusuf Mairuwa and other captives abducted while on duty.
Compensation for affected members who have suffered losses due to insecurity.
Improved remuneration to attract and retain more health workers for better healthcare delivery.
Mu’azu emphasized that failure to meet these demands would leave the association with no choice but to withdraw services from hospitals in the affected areas.
The strike threat comes amid growing concerns over the safety of healthcare workers in Katsina State, who face constant risks while striving to provide essential medical services in volatile regions.
