From Steve Oko, Umuahia
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia State chapter, has appealed to the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to pay the 16 months salary arrears of the staff of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, and the staff of the state’s Health Management Board, who are being owed for 14 months in order to alleviate the economic challenges of the affected workers.
The newly-elected Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr. Chimezie Okwuonu, who made the appeal on Wednesday, during a press briefing in Umuahia, noted the efforts of the governor towards improving the health care sector and urged him not to neglect the welfare of health workers.
“These perennial remuneration challenges have caused an untold economic hardship to our members in these establishments”, he lamented.
Okwuonu also pleaded with the governor to pay COVID-19 hazard allowance of doctors in the state involved in the fight against the pandemic, and to provide them with life assurance package.
He equally appealed to the state government to ensure uninterrupted supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), for the protection of health workers in the state against COVID -19 infection.
” NMA is not oblivious of the enormous economic pressures facing the government especially amidst the covid-19 pandemics, but we are of the conviction that His Excellency has got a heart large enough to accommodate these genuine yearnings of Abia doctors,” he appealed.
NMA commended Gov. Ikpeazu for nominating some doctors and frontline health workers for award over their heroic services in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.
The nominees would be conferred with honorary awards during the 29 anniversary of the creation of Abia State slated for Thursday, August 29.
The NMA chairman assured of the readiness of doctors in the state to collaborate with relevant government agencies that develop programmes and policies geared towards delivering standard, quality and non-compromising healthcare services to the people.
