Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Monday, directed the Hospital Management Board, HMB to take appropriate disciplinary actions on the Doctor and other health workers at the Government Hospital, Olomoro in Isoko South local government area for abandoning their duty posts.
Medical personnel sanctioning directives
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ferguson Onwo, who gave the directive when he led other members in an oversight duty to the hospital, said it was sad to see patients suffer neglect of medical attention, despite government’s efforts to providing quality healthcare services in the state.
Accompanied by Hon Bernard Odior, Festus Utuama and Mathew Omonade, Onwo stated that disciplinary action should be taken to serve as deterrent to those who indulge in such behavior in public service.
The Lawmaker and his team who were at the Central Hospital Oleh, Government Hospital Olomoro, Government Hospital Ozoro and Central Hospital, Kwale, said the legislative assignment is to obtain first hand information on prospects and challenges in the health sector.
The Health Committee Chairman who represents Isoko South 2 Constituency in the House, expressed serious concerns over poor attitudes to work by some care givers.
Possible Reasons for Medical personnel absconding work
He asserted that lack of monitoring and effective supervision could be responsible for the sad narratives, even as he called on the Ministry of Health and the Hospital Management Board, HMB, to ensure close supervision of the health workers.
Onwo noted that healthcare service is an essential duty that has to do with saving lives at all cost, saying that when patients lack medical attention they are denied fate on chances for survival.
The Former Majority Leader in the 7th Delta Assembly, emphasized that quick response to healthcare delivery must be the goal of the profession, and appealed for attitudinal change that will improve quality healthcare in the state.
The Lawmaker commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the recent recruitment of Doctors and other health workers as well as upgrades and provision of health facilities in the sector.
He disclosed that the Committee has enjoyed a robust relationship with the Governor as its observations and recommendations have always received the attention they deserved.
Onwo said the Legislature is empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make laws for peace and good governance as well as to carry out oversight function on Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of Government.
He noted that the oversight has equipped the committee with progress made in the health sector by the state government as well as challenges faced in the sector.
The Lawmaker promised that most of the observed challenges would be deliberated upon during next budget defense hearing by the Committee with the Ministry of health and parastatals under its supervision.
He said adequate provisions would be made to address the needs in the health sector in year 2015 budget.
On some abandoned projects spanning over ten year, including an emergency unit at Central Hospital, Oleh by NDDC and a full block of health facility at Government Hospital, Ozoro, by the Delta State Ministry of Health, Hon Onwo appealed to those involved to return to site to complete them as they are needed in the hospitals.
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The Isoko South 2 Constituency Representative, assured the committee’s support in providing quality, affordable and accessible health care to Deltans.
Chairmen Hospital Management Board, Dr Paul Oweh commended the Assembly Committee on Health for the visit, saying that the visit was timely as the board was committed to repositioning the health sector for better and quality service delivery.
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He assured the Lawmakers that discipline would be melted out on staff that refused to comply to laid down guidelines and rules in their conducts.
Dr Oweh informed the Committee that the hospitals need man power to fill vacancies caused by Doctors and Nurses migration.
He also drew attention to the need to replace obsolete equipments in the hospitals to improve health care delivery in the state.
