Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said that to stimulate and prevent the flight of health professionals, he will implement a unique welfare package in the state health care system in 2024.
Otti, who stated this while launching the first Abia State Council on Health in Umuahia with the theme “Providing an Accessible, Affordable, and Quality Healthcare System for the New Abia,” lamented that the ‘Japa syndrome’ has taken a heavy toll on the health sector as health workers travel abroad in search of greener pastures.
“The ‘Japa’ syndrome has indeed taken its toll on the health sector. This administration is not leaving any stone unturned in addressing this challenge. To this end, the government has resolved to motivate our healthcare workers through prompt payment of their wages and improvement of welfare packages that we will introduce in 2024,” he stated.
Otti described health as one of the administration’s primary goals, explaining that he committed to prioritising people’s health.
He expressed satisfaction that the ABSUTH’s accreditation, which had been lost some years ago, had been restored, and that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria had raised its quota into the College of medicine and Training of house officers.
Otti went on to say that his government will soon hire some health workers to help boost the state’s healthcare system.
“We are in the process of recruiting new skilled birth attendants in order to improve healthcare service delivery in the state. Furthermore, our ongoing digitalization of the Abia State Civil Service has uncovered some staff that have left their duty posts for greener pastures yet still receive remuneration from the state government.
“While the criminality involved in this is going to be addressed by the relevant government agencies, the important thing here is that we do not have the number of hands that we need. We are working hard to fill these gaps.”
cc: Vanguard Ng
