ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT SETS UP MODALITIES PUT TO ADDRESS THE “BRAIN DRAIN” SYNDROME IN THE HEALTH SECTOR 30-10-24
By Sadiq Aminu Abia State government says modalities put in place by the present administration will help address the “Brain Drain syndrome in the health sector of the state.
Governor Alex Otti who stated at the 2024 Physicians’ week of the Nigerian Medical Association NMA in Umuahia noted that his team would soon conclude discussions and set out modalities for the payment of the consolidated Medical Salary Structure CONMESS and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure CONHESS to the relevant personnel in the state government’s employ.
According to the Governor, he has directed the Commissioner for health to work out the appropriate framework for the sponsorship of the continuing professional development of Doctors including fellowship and post-fellowship trainings.
He noted that his intervention in the last six months had led to the remarkable improvement in the quality of Services at the Abia state specialist Hospital and Diagnostics Center Umuahia with the introduction of a wide range of medical, clinical and laboratory Services.
In a keynote address, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche said the migration trend among health professionals between 2015 and 2018 was on the alarming rates and pointed out that over 15,000 Nigerian doctors left the country following poor incentives, insecurity, and limited career advancement opportunities among others.
He stressed the need to curb the ugly trend through improved remuneration packages, enhanced working conditions for health practitioners and sustainable strategies to retain skilled personnel in the country.
Earlier, the Chairman NMA, Abia Chapter, Dr. Ezurike Ezenwa, thanked the Governor for his genuine commitment to addressing health challenges of Abians as well as tackling challenges of salary payment of healthcare workers.