How we’re tackling Japa syndrome – Delta commissioner

The “japa” syndrome, which is reportedly taking a serious toll on medical facilities in Nigeria, is not affecting Delta State as the government is addressing the issue through a multifaceted approach.

One approach is that the state government pays medical doctors and other health workers more than the federal government and other states in the country.

According to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, Delta State pays the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) without taxing the allowances of medical doctors.

Onojaeme, who was reacting to a newspaper(not Nigerian Tribune) publication titled “‘Japa’ sweeps Nigeria’s hospitals” on Tuesday maintained that the state governor, Sheriff Oborewvori also approved the immediate replacement of any medical doctor or other health personnel who travelled out of the country for greener pastures.

He said the Executive Order to replace the health personnel was to avoid the bureaucracy of going through the normal protocol of recruitment in the public service which may delay the process.

In his words, “Only Delta and Federal Government pays the revise CONMESS to medical personnel in the country. Governor Oborevwori is determined to make medical and health workers stay in the country to serve the nation.

“In doing so, he is not unmindful of the wage disparity and working conditions pushing the health workers abroad.

“So as he is addressing the salary challenges, he is also working to improve the infrastructure, equipments and the working conditions of the medical and health workers in the state.

“This is evident in the recent approval for the purchase of CT-SCAN at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH Oghara and the Central Hospital Warri.

“The state government is also carrying out a holistic rehabilitation of some hospitals and health centres across the state to ensure good working environment for health workers and patients.” Onojaeme added.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE