Akwa Ibom State Lawmaker Urges Government to Boost Healthcare Workforce
The healthcare sector in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, is facing a severe shortage of personnel, prompting a call to action from a state lawmaker. Moses Essien, the member representing the Ibiono Ibom State constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has urged the state government to recruit more health workers to address the pressing manpower needs of secondary health facilities.
Essien’s plea came after an on-the-spot assessment of several general hospitals in the state, including the General Hospital in Onna, Immanuel Hospital in Eket, and the General Hospital in Iquita, Oron. The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Health, lamented the dire need for more competent personnel to deliver effective healthcare services to the people.
"The secondary healthcare facilities in our state are in dire need of more hands to deliver effective healthcare services," Essien said, emphasizing that the need for additional staff is pressing, especially since budgetary provisions have been made for it in the 2024 budget.
In addition to recruitment, Essien also called on doctors and nurses in secondary facilities to reside within their quarters to render 24-hour services for effective service delivery. He noted that the government has made provisions for staff quarters to facilitate this.
The lawmaker also addressed the issue of inadequate subventions raised by hospital staff, calling on the State Ministry of Health to consider increasing funding to hospitals. Essien noted that hospitals generate sufficient revenue for government coffers and should be adequately funded.
Essien charged the Chief Medical Superintendents of the visited hospitals to ensure that the health facilities under their care do not deteriorate, emphasizing that "to whom much is given, much is expected." He also urged them to implement measures to ensure that necessary repairs are completed promptly to avoid unnecessary deterioration of the facilities.
The Chief Medical Superintendents of the visited hospitals expressed their commitment to delivering quality healthcare services, thanking the state government for prioritizing investments in the health sector. However, they also highlighted the challenges they face due to inadequate subventions and a shortage of health workers, which slow down the smooth operation of the hospitals.
Improving healthcare services in Akwa Ibom State requires a multifaceted approach. While the state government has made significant investments in the health sector, the shortage of health workers and inadequate funding remain critical challenges that need to be addressed. By recruiting more health workers and increasing funding to hospitals, the state government can help boost the quality of healthcare services delivered to the people.
