Abia State Government says it has uncovered still on its payroll some doctors who left the state employment to seek greener pastures abroad, in what is commonly known as ‘Japa.’

Governor Alex Otti disclosed this in Umuahia, the state capital at the first Abia State Council on Health at the International Conference Centre on Thursday.

Speaking on the theme, “Providing an Accessible, Affordable and Quality Healthcare System for the New Abia,” Otti said such doctors are still collecting salaries from the state despite leaving Abia’s employment and now working abroad.

“Furthermore, our ongoing digitalization of the Abia State civil service has uncovered some staff that have left their duty post for greener pastures, yet still receive remuneration from the State government,” he said.

“While the criminality involved in this is going to be addressed by the relevant agencies of government, the important thing here is that we do not have the number of hands that were hitter to report. We are working hard to fill these gaps.”

The governor added that his administration would recruit more health workers to strengthen the health sector.

Otti said his government was strengthening primary health care and ensuring that health facilities were manned by personnel across the state.

Also speaking, the Minister of Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary of Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr Ifenyinwa Uma-Kalu, stressed the need for state governments to support the federal government by providing the necessary infrastructure in the health care system.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo while giving her address described the first State Council on Health as a demonstration of the commitment of Governor Alex Otti’s administration to prioritizing developmental initiatives that are capable of unlocking the potential of Abia’s strategic human capital to fast -track the attainment of socio-economic development of the present administration.

Okoronkwo said that the focus of the administration is to bestow on Abians a health system that meets the needs of the people irrespective of socio-economic status, adding that it would in turn put Abia on the path of attaining Universal Health Coverage for all. (Channels TV)