Union wants Bauchi State Govt. to review redistribution policy of health workers
Redistribution
By Ahmed Mohammed Kaigama
Bauchi, Feb. 25, 2020 (NAN) The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Bauchi State chapter,
has called on the state government to review the policy of health workers redistribution in the state.
The Chairman of the union Alhaji Dauda Shuaibu, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Bauchi.
He said a large percentage of the health workers are in the urban areas redundant, to the detriment of people living in the rural areas.
Shuaibu lamented that the inequitable distribution of health workers has negative effect on the healthcare delivery.
He said that “as a union, we are disturbed over the concentration of health workers in urban facilities, which makes the personnel redundant, while
the facilities in rural areas, especially hard-to-reach areas, are understaffed to the detriment of the people of the communities.
“We are aware of the attempt by the state government to review the staff redistribution policy.”
He noted that health workforce maldistribution exacerbates the shortage problem “and jeopardises access to services, resulting to
poorer health status among people living in hard-to-reach areas.
“No fewer than 500 unemployed health workers are laying waste in the state. They can be reengaged.”
He noted that such health workers are graduates of the school of nursing and college of health technology, seeking employment in the state.
The chairman urged the state government to employ more health workers to fill declared vacancies.
He also urged the state government to consider introducing incentive packages to attract and retain health workers in the deprived areas.
According to him, the lack of adequate health workers in deprived communities has contributed to the decline of quality healthcare delivery in the state.
He commended the state government for declaring a state of emergency on the health sector, saying it is the right step in the right direction.
On the attitude of health workers to clients and patients in health facilities, the chairman said the union trained and retrained their members.
He charged members to remain committed to their work and be law abiding. (NAN)
MAK/BOLA/HA
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu