By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said plans have been concluded to substantially offset salary arrears owed workers of the State University Teaching Hospital.

The governor spoke at the Government House in Umuahia when National President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Prof. Innocent Ujah and his team visited him.

Ikpeazu promised that his administration is committed to resolving issues at ABSUTH, and called for support of health workers. According to the governor, what gives a medical practitioner joy is not just money, but saving lives. He also condemned the attack on some health workers by union leaders under the guise of a strike.

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He appealed to Ujah to further sensitise members of the union on the need to take saving lives more seriously, especially as a cardinal objective of the profession.

Ujah lauded the government’s giant strides in the health sector, including the employment of more health workers, establishment of the Tele-Health initiative and other strategic options in the sector.

He, however, appealed to the government to address the poor road network leading to ABSUTH, improve on the state of some General and Cottage Hospitals, non-implementation of COVID-19 hazard allowance to health workers, among others.