Following complaints of inadequate health personnel in the secondary health facilities in Akwa Ibom State, the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Moses Essien has called on the government to employ more health workers for effective health care services.
The lawmaker stressed that such employment was possible as it had been captured in the 2024 approved budget.
Essien, who made the call on Tuesday during an on the spot assessment of some General Hospitals in the state, with other members of the committee, called on doctors and nurses who work at those facilities to reside within the environment they work in to render premium health care services and for quick response to emergencies.
According to him, the state government had already made provisions for staff quarters.
He said, “Akwa Ibom State government should recruit more health workers as the secondary health care facilities in the state are in dire need of more hands to deliver effective health care services to the people. Budgetary provisions have been made for it in the 2024 budget as approved.
“Also Akwa Ibom State government has made provisions for staff quarters to give the health workers an opportunity to reside closely to their patients in case of emergencies. Health workers have no reason to reside far from the facilities.”
Essien who is the member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, equally made a case for increment of subvention for hospitals, stressing that hospitals on their part generate revenue for the state government and should be given adequate resources for maintenance.
He therefore charged the Chief Medical Superintendents of the hospitals to ensure the maintenance of health facilities under their care.
He also encouraged them to set up machinery that will ensure that adequate repairs are done in time to avoid unnecessary deterioration of the facilities.
In their separate responses, the Chief Medical Superintendents of General Hospital, Akwa, Onna Local Government Area, Dr. Francis Inyang, Immanuel Hospital, Eket, Dr. Itaketo Ndaeyo and General Hospital, Iquita, Oron, Dr. Sabastine Noah, thanked the state government for its huge investments in the health sector.
However, they complained of inadequate health workers and subvention which according to them had slowed down the smooth operations and service delivery in the hospitals.
