Patients desert Kano hospital

Hundreds of patients receiving medical attention at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano have deserted the facility following the indefinite strike action embarked upon by resident doctors in the country.

A relative of the patients, Musa Lawan, said most of the patients left the hospital on Wednesday.
According to him, the hospital has discharged patients with minor cases to enable them seek medical attention elsewhere.
"When the strike started, the management of the hospital discharged patients with minor cases and allowed those with critical cases to stay."
When contacted, the Assistant Director of Information in the hospital, Alhaji Aminu Inuwa, said the strike had paralysed medical services in the institution.
"The General Outpatients Department, where more than 250 patients are being attended to daily, is also affected as the few consultants cannot tend to them.
"The consultants are only tending to patients with critical cases. The ICT, Special Baby Care and Speciality Units are being managed by consultants," he said.