South East breaking News
The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners Abia State Chapter, (NAGGMDP ) has lamented the poor status of the General hospitals in the state and low morale among health workers in Hospital Management Board with consequent reduction in the quality of health care in that sector.
The members attributed emphatically that the dearth of the secondary healthcare emanated and plunged abysmally the moment the state government started appointing foreigners(none HMB doctors) as the Chief Executive of the hospitals Management Board.
According to the communique of NAGGMDP Abia state chapter of the April 14,2021 meeting ,held at Aba ,the members expressed surprise that the government would look elsewhere and appoint people who are not acquainted and knowledgeable about the day to day runnings in the Secondary Healthcare sector as the Chief Executive while hospital Management Board has a pool of qualified senior staff who have finished their second medical degrees, and are now in their third degrees in the medical career.
The communique disclosed that ,” HMB has also sponsored their staff to medical Consultant cadre”
“HMB has staff with the relevant academic qualifications and perfect job experiences for the apex position in Hospital Management Board “
” The House pleaded with the government to recant this stance adopted since 2011 as this has led to administrative failure and infrastructural decay in HMB ‘”
” Moreso, HMB Abia State is the only State appointing a non staff as the Chief Executive of HMB throughout the federation”
The communiqué further revealed that ,”this has also dealt a big blow by impeding career progression in HMB and apt demoralization of staff'”
The communiqué further , ” decried the 15 months salary arrears currently being owed to staff of HMB and encourage the state government on the measures being adopted to defuse the arrears as this brings down staff morale and infuses indiscipline in the system”
In his speech during interactive session, leadership of NMA Abia State, expressed willingness to assist the State Government in quality health services across the General and Cottage Hospitals if the above conditions are looked into.
In his speech, the Chairman of NAGGMDP Abia State Chapter, Dr Okeugo Obinna Chibueze , charged the members to put in their best despite the recent mass transfers across the geographical zones of the state during a precarious time occasioned by the 15 months salary arrears assuring them that the leadership will do the needful by engagement with the relevant authority in HMB. .
He reiterated that appointing the most qualified HMB doctor to head HMB won’t only steer HMB back to the right course but would also ensue administrative transparency and patriotism which have eluded HMB for a long while now.
He pointed out that clearing the multiple months salary arrears would indoctrinate staff discipline and raise IGR of HMB.
Dr Okeugo , described the current leadership of Nigerian Medical Association Abia State chapter as a pragmatic one which carries everyone along and thank the Chairman of NMA for responding to the invitaion for interaction,while describing his leadership as exemplary.
.He in addition , described the recent past and the present Abia NMA leadership as innovative, hardworking and sincere.
In his address, the Chairman of NMA Abia State, Dr Chimezie Okwuonu expressed his appreciation to the leadership of National Association of Government General medical and Dental practitioners Abia State Chapter for inviting the leadership of NMA Abia for appreciation and interactive session, describing it as the first of its kind,while adding that NMA Abia under his leadership believe in interactive leadership and carrying everyone along.
Speaking further ,he said ,” the current NMA leadership has not minced words right from inception to call on government and its agencies to show closer attention to Medical Doctors . For a considerable period now , the issue of ABSUTH and HMB has remained of concern to the medical community in Abia state “
‘” I want to assure you that we shall do our best to pay undivided attention to the welfare of Medical Doctors in Abia state and to the NAGGMDP ,you will not be left behind whenever any agitation on welfare is place and pressed for before the government
He also suggested the incorperation of labour leaders in the constitution of HMB Board membership for better synergy in the planning and progress of the Secondary healthcare sector.
Dr Okwuonu, however used the opportunity to ” encourage the Doctors to shun every temptation to commit unethical practices in
day to day work “
Speaking further , he urged the Doctors to assist government in ensuring quality care is rendered in Abia state,adding that as employees under the government ,” We will continue to engage the government on these steps to ensure that the welfare of our members are not trampled on and to ensure that no one is victimized and to ensure that such steps will put our health sector in Abia in good condition”.
He , therefore called on Abia state government to strive further in training of manpower in healthcare sector, especially the re-training of medical doctors working in its General hospitals by way of sponsorship to special courses ,conferences and trainings.
He added that the government should start thinking in the direction of specialist health centers among the numerous General and Cottage hospitals in Abia state, such as specialist cardiac, kidney and maternal and child health centers,one in each senatorial zone of Abia .