Government has neglected doctors in rural areas … Laments Dr. Sarkodie

By: Pascal Kafu Abotsi

(Sandema)

The Medical Superintendent of Sandema District Hospital in Builsa District of the Upper East Region, Dr. James Sarkordie, has noted with dissatisfaction, the government’s neglect of doctors who serve in the rural areas. He viewed postings of doctors to the rural areas as punishment, a step that was not in the right direction.

He observed that the meaningful contributions doctors in these areas made to nation building were not seen and given the necessary recognition. “I sacrificed my self to be in this part of the country but have noticed that whatever I do is not recognized”, he said.

He said he had not been receiving benefits that doctors in the urban centres got from time to time.

Dr. Sarkordie, who was speaking to a group of journalists, pointed out that he was made to pay 1.6 million cedis for accommodation at the end of every month. The two-bedroom house, he said, was not of the standard to merit such an amount of money. He added, “Government is only interested in deducting money for accommodation but does not pay attention to the problems I am facing at the hospital. This is exploitation”, he noted.

Being the only medical doctor at the hospital instead of three was a challenge to him, as he did not have time to rest. “At times, I get home very late but I have to return to the hospital when my attention is drawn to an emergency situation. My children hardly see me, as I leave home early and return late”, Dr. Sarkordie lamented.

Dr. Sardordie pointed out that the hospital should have been put in a better state before the introduction of the NHIS as he had been overwhelmed with large number of patients who patronized the hospital. Sandema, with a population of about 80,000 people, had malaria as common disease. 103 cases of malaria in children under five years were recorded in August, out of which one death was recorded. No death was recorded in September even though 74 cases involving children were reported. The number of pregnant women with malaria was not that high, as pointed out by the medial superintendent. Other diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia were also recorded.

Having been in the medical profession for ten years, Dr. Sarkordie was of the view that he could have made much money if he had served in the South, but decided to be in the North, only to realize he had put himself at a disadvantage.

He said he would be forced to leave the hospital by next year, if pragmatic measures were not taken to resolve his problem. A team of journalists forming the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), under the sponsorship Malaria Clinical Trial Alliance, was in the region to assess the health status of the people after the flood.

Source/Credit: The Chronicle ( Ghana)