Ikpeazu To Substantially Offset Salaries Owed ABSUTH Workers Soon

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu says arrangement has been concluded to substantially offset arrears of salary owed workers of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Aba in a few weeks

Governor Ikpeazu dropped dropped the hint at Government House Umuahia when he received in audience the National President Nigerian Medical Association NMA Professor Innocent Ujah and his team.

According to the Governor, his administration is committed to solving the problem of ABSUTH in a sustainable manner and called for the support of health workers in that regard, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Ememanka, the governor expressed concern over the lackadaisical attitude of the succeeding management of ABSUTH and urged them and Management of other institutions to partner government in the struggle to nip in the bud salary padding.

He said, “According to the Governor, what gives a medical practitioner joy is not just money but ability to save lives, and condemned the attack on some health workers attending to children by some union leaders under the guise of a strike.

“He appealed to the NMA President to further sensitise their members on the need to take saving of lives more seriously a programme for medical practitioners on life saving principles as a cardinal objective of the medical profession.

“Governor Ikpeazu acknowledged the support he got from NMA during the Covid 19 pandemic and commended the Covid 19 frontline workers for their hardwork which ensured the low mortality rate recorded in the State, assuring that what is due to all Frontline workers will be paid to them by Government.

“The Governor announced that the road leading to ABSUTH will be reconstructed within the next five weeks even as he said that the drainage leading to the institution had been completed.

“Earlier in his address, the National President of NMA, Professor Innocent Ujah lauded the State Government on the giant strides recorded in the health sector including the employment of more Health workers, the establishment of the Tele-Health initiative and other strategic options in the health sector.

“He however appealed to the State Government to address the poor road network leading to ABSUTH, improve on the state of some General and Cottage Hospitals in the state, non-implementation of Covid-19 hazard allowance to health workers in the state, amongst others.

“Professor Ujah used the forum to ommend their professional colleague and Abia-born medical Doctor,Dr Onyema Ogbuagu for being part of the medical team that recently developed Covid 19 vaccine in far USA.

“Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr Dr Joe Osuji and other top officials of the State Government were present at the event.”