The Abia State Government has announced plans to penalise primary healthcare workers who fail to report for duty, warning that such behaviour will no longer be tolerated as the state intensifies efforts to revitalise its healthcare sector.
Speaking at a meeting of the State Primary Healthcare Taskforce held at Government House, Umuahia, the Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, said the government will withhold the salaries of health workers who are absent from their duty posts. He noted that the government is currently renovating over 200 primary healthcare centres across the state to enhance service delivery, and as such, expects a renewed sense of responsibility from all health personnel.
Emetu also decried the continued operation of unregulated traditional birth attendants, blaming their activities for high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the state. He affirmed that the government is developing measures to curb these practices and improve maternal healthcare outcomes.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Uzor Nwachukwu, called for stronger collaboration between local government authorities and primary healthcare workers to ensure effective rural health sensitisation and programme implementation. He disclosed that the ministry would soon convene meetings with local government chairmen to develop joint strategies to enhance access to quality healthcare in remote communities.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Kalu U. Kalu, reiterated the agency’s commitment to enforcing discipline within the sector. He stated that the inspectorate division will take firm action against absentee staff, stressing that such conduct undermines the state’s healthcare reform agenda.
The task force meeting was attended by representatives of the World Health Organisation and other key development partners.
