Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has announced to conclude discussions and set out modalities for the payment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to health workers in the state government’s employ.
Governor Otti disclosed this while declaring open the 2024 Physicians’ week of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at the International Conference Center Umuahia.
Governor Otti said that the gesture and other steps already taken by his administration would help address the “Brain Drain Syndrome” in the health sector.
The Governor while noting that his administration may not has gotten everything right, said he has shown great commitment to improving the healthcare delivery system in the state.
He said as part of general welfare and professional support package for Doctors working in the state’s public healthcare system, 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.
The Governor noted that his intervention in the last six months has 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.
The Governor while commending Medical Doctors for their sacrifices as enshrined in their Hippocratic Oath, assured that Abia remains firmly committed to the periodic improvement of the welfare of Doctors.
Delivering a keynote address, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche highlighted the alarming migration trend among health professionals between 2015 and 2018 pointing out that over 15,000 Nigerian doctors left the country, due to 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 made a case for a sustainable strategies to retain skilled personnel in the country.
The Commissioner commended Governor Alex Otti for his efforts to address the welfare of health workers in the state through remuneration packages, improvement in their working conditions adding that it would help to stem the tide of migration and ensure a health system that can meet the needs of the people.
In his welcome address, the Chairman NMA,Abia Chapter, Dr. Ezurike Ezenwa, noted that the event affords health practitioners the opportunity to take stock as well renew commitment to their sacred hippocratic oath and thanked the Governor for his genuine commitment to addressing health challenges of Abians as well as tackling challenges of salary payment of healthcare workers.
