Insecurity Grips MMSH’s Vicinity: Patients, Staff Under Fear of Phone Snatchers

By Ahmad Deedat

Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital (MMSH), one of largest facilities across the nation in terms of services provided and the largest state-owned facility in Kano, has a certain distinction in reputation. It is recognized as a one-stop hub for medical practice and learning, hence the name “specialists”.

However, in recent times, insecurity has plagued the environs of this facility. The lawlessness of hoodlums across its proximity rises by each day that passes. Patients, patient relatives, and staff are under increasing threat of phone snatchers and armed robbers.

Just recently, a staff midwife of the facility had to succumbed to the brutal forces of lawlessness. She fell prey to the merciless vandalism of phone snatchers. She was injured and had her phone snatched. This has been happening for a while now. Similar narrations were told, where thugs snatched phones, bags, and other belongings of staff members and patients relatives, at knifepoint.

Moreover, you’ll recall sometime in the previous year, a doctor was threatened at his desk while providing medical services. Similarly, a nurse/midwife had to crawl under a patient’s bed to escape the mischief of thugs. These are unbearable events that require a decisive action.

However, the facility is trying its best to restore and strengthen security within its premises, but the darkness of the vandalism has spread beyond the walls of the facility. The environment is no longer safe for effective healthcare service delivery. At any time of day or night, the fear never subsides. It mimics ‘thuggery with impunity’.

Therefore, the state government needs to extend a helping hand in curtailing the damages done by the lingering insecurity at this facility. It is worth noting that people from all over the state, across states, and often times beyond the shores of Nigeria, chooses MMSH as their preferred healthcare center. It has the largest patient turnout in northern Nigeria, and some argue it has the highest number of patients in West Africa.

Until the state government offers solutions to this miseries, MMSH would be under siege. Perish the thought!

Ahmad Deedat can be reached via didatbabbangida@gmail.com