Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - Abia State government has said that it will penalise primary healthcare workers who are absent from their duty posts.
Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu made the
declaration at a Primary Healthcare taskforce meeting held at the Government
House, Umuahia.
According to Emetu, the State government will stop the
salaries of healthcare workers who fail to report to work, emphasising that the
State government, which is renovating over 200 Primary healthcare centres
across the State for improved quality delivery, will not tolerate absenteeism.
Emetu also condemned traditional birth practices, which he
said contributed to high maternal and neonatal mortality rates and noted that
the state government was working towards checkmating their activities.
In his speech, Commissioner for local government and
chieftaincy affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, called for collaboration and synergy
between State primary healthcare workers and local government authorities in
order to achieve rural sensitization and implementation of health programs.
He stated that the ministry plans to hold meetings with
Chairmen of local governments to discuss ways to work together and improve
healthcare delivery in rural areas by ensuring that Abia citizens have access
to quality healthcare services.
Earlier in his remark, the Executive Secretary of the Abia
State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Kalu U. Kalu, warned that the
inspectorate division will penalise health workers who are absent from their
duty posts, noting that absenteeism undermines the government’s efforts to
revive primary healthcare centers.
Representatives from the World Health Organization and other
stakeholders attended the meeting.
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