Abia Government Retracts, Claims No Doctor Was Fired

The false rumour that the Abia State Government has fired all doctors working for the state government has been refuted by Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, the state’s commissioner for health.

The reported dismissal is “only a figment of the author’s imagination,” the Commissioner claims, adding that “the government has no intention of dismissing or disengaging any doctor or health personnel currently working to support our ongoing efforts to revive the health sector in the state.”

She also maintained that no one has been asked to submit a “fresh expression of interest” as the fake circular directed.

Dr. Okoronkwo advised the doctors and members of the general public to ignore the rumour and support the several initiatives of the government at driving holistic healthcare delivery in the state.

The Commissioner has since her appointment, first as Special Adviser on Health Care Delivery, in the Otti’s administration adopted several pragmatic initiatives at reviving the health sector in the state.

Her intervention saw health workers call off their 6-month-old strike and returned to work almost immediately.

While speaking on Saturday during the flag-off of the free medical services of the Ministry at Aba General Hospital, the Health Commissioner pointed out that the era of owing health workers their entitlements were long gone as the governor has prioritised prompt payments of salaries and allowances of the workers.

She is currently spearheading the efforts of the Dr Otti administration to rebuild dilapidated healthcare facilities across the state.