Japa: Delta Faces Dearth Of Health Workers

Delta State government has lamented that essential health workers are leaving the state in search of greener pastures abroad.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, flanked by his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza and others disclosed this while speaking on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting. He further disclosed that the state loses up to 10 nurses and other medical experts every six months.

“For example, you can employ 30 nurses a day, within six months, you lose like 10. We replace them immediately without approval from His Excellency, there is a standing approval in all the tertiary health institutions.

“A lot of our nurses and experts are lost abroad because of this ‘Japa’ syndrome. His Excellency in his wisdom has approved the immediate replacement of vital essential health workers, doctors and nurses.

“It is no longer news that due to poor wages and poor healthcare facilities, doctors, nurses and other health specialists drift to overseas’ countries for greener pastures and well equipped medical facilities,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the State Executive Council (SEC) has given approval for the equipping of 20 general hospitals across the state to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare.

The approval for the upward review of the contract for the procurement of medical equipment is concentrated in 15 local government areas, leaving the other 10.