Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma has appealed to medical doctors on the state payroll, to join hands with his administration, to ensure that hospitals are functional and serve the medical needs of Imo people as he regrettably noted that “currently, not even one General Hospital in Imo State, is working properly”.
The Governor made this known at the Government House, Owerri, when he received members of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) who were on a courtesy visit.
The Vice-Chairman NMA, Imo State branch, Dr. Victor Ike Okechukwu, said they came to interact with the Governor on some problems affecting the health sector in Imo State, which had lingered for a long time.
Dr. Okechukwu cited the loss of accreditation by the IMSUTH, delay in payment of salaries of the institution’s teachers, implementation of the 2014 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, COMESS, for medical workers in Imo State, as part of the issues.
Uzodinma said his administration was working very hard to produce a blueprint that will make all government hospitals work optimally.
He said, “The situation of General Hospitals, Specialist Hospital and even healthcare centres in the state, leaves much to be desired and requires all hands to be on deck to put the hospitals back on track for Imo people to get healthcare from them.
“Of all my agenda, healthcare delivery is on the priority list. What is happening in Imo State University Teaching Hospital, IMSUTH, Orlu, particularly the level of dilapidation I saw, while on an inspection visit to the establishment, gives me cause for serious concern.
“The institution’s College of Medicine lost accreditation because of negligence, lack of dedication and seriousness on both the management and staff of the College, but I am prepared to change the narrative if the doctors are on the same page with me on my vision for the school.”
He expressed regret that a situation where students spend up to 11 years on the campus, studying a particular course without being sure of graduating, is unfortunate and unacceptable.
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On the issue of delayed payment of salaries of some senior staff of the Medical School, the Governor explained that in the process of automating the salary payroll of the state civil service, a lot of discrepancies, including processes of engagement of doctors were discovered and all efforts to get those concerned to come forward to rectify the anomaly proved abortive. He stated that he was very prepared to pay all arrears salaries owed the staff of the College, as soon as the records were put straight.
The NMA leadership pledged to partner with government to bring the state’s health sector in Imo back on track and also pleaded with the Governor to look at the issues they raised passionately and come to their aid.
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Uzodinma however, directed the Commissioner for Health to cooperate with the management of the Medical School for the purposes of resolving all the contentious issues.