Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has issued a stern warning to all Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Zonal Directors across the state’s 16 health zones, directing them to ensure immediate and sustained compliance with minimum operational and clinical standards in all state-owned health facilities.

KANO FOCUS reports that the directive, signed by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, follows reports of persistent gaps in service delivery, clinical governance, patient safety practices and administrative compliance in some hospitals and zones.

According to the statement, the Board stressed that in line with its mandate to ensure quality, safe, ethical and patient-centred healthcare delivery, all hospital managers must urgently address identified shortcomings or face disciplinary measures.

Dr. Nagoda directed that all service points must be equipped with essential and functional medical equipment at all times, noting that faulty or non-functional equipment must be promptly reported and documented for immediate corrective action.

He also ordered that all hospital theatres must have clearly displayed, updated and approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which must be strictly adhered to by all theatre staff.

On clinical governance, the Board mandated monthly clinical audits of all deaths and critical incidents, with proper documentation and review by facility management teams. Such reports, the statement said, must be readily available for inspection and submission when required.

The Board further directed that complaint and suggestion boxes be installed at visible locations in all facilities, regularly emptied, reviewed and acted upon, with feedback mechanisms put in place. SERVICOM desks are also to be fully reactivated to provide guidance and redress for patients, particularly the vulnerable and underserved.

Emphasising patient rights, the Board warned that informed consent must be obtained and properly documented before any medical procedure or intervention, where applicable.

Dr. Nagoda also announced that executive and supportive supervision would commence shortly, urging all departments to ensure that duty rosters, staff attendance registers and service schedules are up to date and readily available.

On staff discipline, the Board warned that absenteeism, lateness and abandonment of duty would not be tolerated, stressing that strict adherence to official working hours is mandatory.

The statement further highlighted the need for proper documentation and accurate medical records, describing poor documentation as professional negligence. It also underscored strict implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, including cleanliness of wards, theatres, laboratories and public areas, as well as mandatory availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

In addition, the Board directed that essential drugs and consumables be properly stored, accounted for and dispensed in line with laid-down procedures, with accurate and up-to-date stock records.

Staff were equally reminded to uphold professional conduct and ethics in line with civil service rules and patient rights, warning that any form of abuse, extortion or unethical behaviour would attract severe sanctions.

The Board also drew attention to the proper documentation of utilisation registers for free maternity services, noting that free maternity items and services would be inspected and that any discrepancies or falsification of records would lead to disciplinary action.

“All the above instructions must be complied with without exception,” the statement warned, adding that failure to comply would attract appropriate administrative and disciplinary actions in line with extant civil service rules and regulations.

The Board urged all CMDs and Zonal Directors to treat the directive with the seriousness and urgency it deserves, as part of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare service delivery across Kano State.