By Nahum Sule, Jalingo – January 9, 2026
The Taraba State Government’s decision to temporarily shut down the Specialist Hospital, Jalingo, has raised serious concerns over patient safety, continuity of care, and the preparedness of alternative health facilities to absorb critically ill patients.
An on-the-spot assessment by NEWSPOINTER reveals that, contrary to expectations of an evacuated facility, several patients were still receiving treatment across key wards at the time of this report, many of them in life-threatening conditions.
At the dialysis unit, chronic kidney patients were found stranded and uncertain about their next line of care. Dialysis patients require strict and uninterrupted treatment schedules to survive. However, investigations indicate that dialysis services at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo—expected to serve as a fallback—are currently constrained by malfunctioning machines and limited capacity.
Medical practitioners warn that dialysis is a highly sensitive service that cannot be abruptly halted without fatal consequences. Prolonged shutdowns not only endanger patients but may also compromise the functionality of dialysis equipment, compounding future service delivery challenges.
Further findings showed that clinical services were ongoing in the maternity and medical wards. In one instance, an elderly woman estimated to be in her seventies was observed undergoing a blood transfusion. Experts stress that patients receiving transfusions, oxygen therapy, intensive monitoring, or emergency obstetric care face grave risks if medical attention is suddenly withdrawn.
Health professionals interviewed identified several categories of patients for whom service disruption could be deadly. These include dialysis patients, emergency obstetric cases, critically ill children, severe trauma victims, cardiac patients, and individuals dependent on life-support equipment. For such patients, continuity of care is not a policy choice but a medical necessity.
Meanwhile, investigations have debunked public speculation that the closure of the hospital is linked to the expiration of the tenure of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Alex Maiangwa. Findings indicate that the hospital has been undergoing renovation since last year, with the state government reportedly directing that patients be disengaged to allow contractors complete the project within schedule.
However, health sector stakeholders argue that the approach adopted by the authorities raises serious ethical and policy questions. They note that major tertiary and specialist hospitals across Nigeria often undergo phased or sectional renovations, ensuring that critical units such as dialysis, emergency, maternity, and intensive care remain operational throughout the construction period.
According to them, a total shutdown of a specialist hospital without fully functional alternatives exposes patients to avoidable risks and undermines public confidence in the healthcare system.
From observations on ground, it is evident that the Taraba State Specialist Hospital serves as a major referral centre for residents of the state and neighbouring communities. Its closure, even temporarily, has far-reaching implications beyond infrastructure upgrade, directly affecting survival outcomes for vulnerable patients.
Health advocates are therefore calling on the state government to urgently review the shutdown strategy, adopt a phased renovation model, and put in place clear, functional alternatives before enforcing full closure.
As renovation work continues, stakeholders insist that development must not come at the cost of human lives.
