The Abia government has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for local government health workers.

The information commissioner, Okey Kanu, announced this on Monday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.

Mr Kanu said that this development formed part of the present administration’s ongoing reforms, focused on enhancing the welfare and conditions of service of Abia civil servants.

He said that the move placed Abia among the few states in the federation that pay the federal government’s CONHESS to local government health workers.

“As part of the ongoing reforms in the state’s civil service, the state government continues to prioritise workers’ welfare and conditions of service. To this end, therefore, the state executive council has approved the CONHESS Salary Scale for local government workers in the state,” he said.

The commissioner also announced that significant progress had been made in the state’s healthcare revitalisation programme.
According to him, more than 52 primary healthcare centres were being renovated and equipped across the state.

“This brings the total number of functionalised PHCs to 102, while the remaining 98 PHCs will be fully renovated and equipped before the end of the year,” he said.

Mr Kanu further disclosed that 50 out of the 79 World Bank Impact PHCs would also be completed before year-end.

He expressed optimism that “by the turn of the year, a total of 250 PHCs or more will have been fully renovated and equipped for use by Abians”.
Mr Kanu noted that patronage at the rehabilitated facilities was increasing in line with the government’s vision for accessible and affordable healthcare services in Abia.

On secondary health infrastructure, he said the construction of three specialist hospitals was ongoing, with recent reviews undertaken to upgrade facilities “to world-class standards in line with the aspirations of the government.”

The commissioner stated that Governor Alex Otti had directed the solar power project at the Sustainable Development Goals Hospital in Ugwunagbo to be made operational immediately.

He announced that the state government had reopened its health worker recruitment portal, which had been shut down in August.

“Currently, vacancies exist for ophthalmologists, medical officers, dental officers, part-time and full-time consultants,” he said.

Mr Kanu also urged interested candidates to apply through the state’s website.

(NAN)