The governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, has disclosed that his administration has identified physicians on the state payroll who left the state to pursue better chances overseas. These physicians are referred to as “Japa” and continue to get state salary even after leaving the state.
During Otti’s speech at the first Abia State Council on Health, which was held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, this revelation was made.
“Providing an Accessible, Affordable, and Quality Healthcare System for the New Abia” was the topic of the event.
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Governor Otti recognised the negative effects of physician emigration on the state’s healthcare system. He promised to solve this problem by introducing a special welfare programme for physicians beginning in the next year in an attempt to deter such migration and improve the country’s healthcare system in Abia.
Although noting that the state’s health sector had suffered as a result of doctors leaving the state, the governor pledged to reverse the trend by providing physicians with an additional welfare package beginning in the next year.
He said: “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.”
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The governor also mentioned that his administration intends to bolster the health sector by recruiting additional health workers.
He said: “We are in the process of recruiting new skilled birth attendants to improve healthcare service delivery in the state. Furthermore, our ongoing digitalisation 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.”
Otti stated that his administration is making improvements to primary healthcare and making sure that staff members are stationed throughout the state to oversee medical institutions.
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The Permanent Secretary of the Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifenyinwa Uma-Kalu, represented the Minister of Health, who stressed the significance of state governments providing the infrastructure required in the healthcare system in order to help the federal government.
Ngozi Okoronkwo, the Commissioner for Health, described the establishment of the State Council on Health as evidence of Otti’s administration’s commitment to giving development projects first priority in order to fully use Abia’s key human capital.
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