Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said that his government has uncovered several doctors who had departed the state’s employment to seek opportunities abroad, commonly referred to as ‘Japa,’ still receiving salaries from the State.
He made the revelation while speaking at the first Abia State Council on Health at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia with the theme, “Providing an Accessible, Affordable and Quality Healthcare System for the New Abia”.
Expressing his dismay at this discovery, Governor Otti emphasized the adverse effects of the emigration of medical professionals on the state’s healthcare sector.
“The ‘japa’ syndrome has indeed taken its toll on the health sector; however, this administration is not leaving any stone unturned in addressing this challenge,” Governor Otti said.
To counter this trend, he announced plans to implement a special welfare package for healthcare workers, slated to commence from 2024, aiming to boost morale and retain local talent.
Moreover, the governor pledged to intensify recruitment efforts to fortify the state’s healthcare workforce. “We are in the process of recruiting new skilled birth attendants to elevate healthcare service delivery in the state,” he declared.
Highlighting the ongoing digitalization of the Abia State civil service, he underscored the discovery of personnel who had abandoned their duty posts but continued to receive government remuneration.
Governor Otti reassured the public of the government’s commitment to address this issue.
“The criminality involved in this is going to be addressed by the relevant agencies of government,” he assured.
“However, the critical aspect is our insufficient manpower due to these departures. We are vigorously working to bridge these gaps,” he said.