By Ishaq Haruna Hardawa
Stakeholders in the health sector in Bauchi State have called for renewed commitment and dedication to duty among healthcare workers to improve service delivery across the state.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ interactive session organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Bauchi State Governor on Labour Matters.
The forum focused on promoting rededication to duty among healthcare workers and addressing challenges affecting effective healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Labour Matters to the Governor, Comrade Usman Danturaki, said the interaction was aimed at encouraging healthcare workers to renew their commitment to duty and provide efficient and quality services to the people.
Comrade Usman Danturaki commended healthcare workers in the state for their sacrifices and resilience in saving lives and improving the health of the people.
He said the present administration considered it necessary to ensure the full implementation of the 100 percent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for healthcare workers, stressing that those entrusted with caring for the health of others deserved appropriate attention to their welfare.
The Special Adviser urged healthcare workers to reciprocate the gesture by demonstrating greater commitment to their responsibilities.
He called on them to ensure punctuality, avoid absenteeism, and demonstrate empathy, care and professionalism in their dealings with patients.
Usman Danturaki stressed that the investment made by the government in the welfare of healthcare workers should translate into improved access to quality healthcare services for residents of the state.
Speaking the Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Muhammad Dambam, represented by the Director of Administration in the Ministry, Malam Isiaku Musa Mu’azu, disclosed that the state government would soon introduce a biometric attendance register and establish a high-powered monitoring committee to address absenteeism and lateness among healthcare workers.
Dr Sani Dambam also reiterated the government’s commitment to introducing additional welfare packages to cater to the needs of healthcare workers and improve productivity in the health sector.
In his remarks, the Bauchi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Dauda Shuaibu, commended the state government for implementing the 100 percent CONHESS salary structure.
He assured that the organise Labour are pushing for the inclusion of other cadres in healthcare sector to benefit from the new pay rise.
Comrade Dauda Shuaibu further assured participants that the deliberations and recommendations from the forum would be cascaded to relevant stakeholders for wider dissemination and improved service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Directors of Local Government Primary Healthcare, Suleiman Abdu Kirfi assured that primary healthcare personnel across the state would remain committed to justifying the government’s investment and welfare initiatives directed towards healthcare workers.
Participants during the interactive session assured their readiness to redouble efforts in the discharge of their assigned responsibilities.
