Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti said that the state had discovered some numbers of physicians on its payroll, who had abandoned their jobs with the state and relocated (“Japa”) to the overseas in search of greener pasture.
The governor on Thursday, said that even though these physicians have left the state workforce and are currently employed abroad, their details still on Abia Govt payroll and still receiving wages from the government.
This issue was raised when he (the governor) was speaking on the topic of “Providing an Accessible, Affordable and Quality Healthcare System for the New Abia” during the inaugural Abia State Council on Health, at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, the State capital.
The governor noted that as a result of physicians leaving the state, the state’s health sector had suffered tremendous brain drain; but he also pledged to reverse this trend by providing professionals with additional and adequate welfare packages starting from next year.
The Governor is here quoted below:
“The ‘Japa’ syndrome has indeed taken its toll on the health sector; however, this administration is not leaving any stone unturned in addressing this challenge. To this end, the government has resolved to motivate our health care workers through prompt payment of their wages and improvement of welfare packages that we will introduce from 2024.”
The governor went on to say that in line with his plan to bolster the healthcare industry, his government will hire additional medical professionals.
“We are in the process of recruiting new skilled birth attendants 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 post for greener pastures, yet still receive remuneration from the government. While the criminality involved in this is going to be addressed by the relevant agencies of government, the important thing here is that we do not have the number of hands that were hitherto reported. We are working hard to fill these gaps,” he added.
As we all know the Abia state governor as a man of integrity, and as one who usually to keep to his promises, we hope and look forward to seeing the Abia health ministry dazzle in a new industrial face-lift in the coming year 2025. Both in the facility and staff welfare.