The Anambra State Government has begun installing clock-in devices in public health institutions in order to reduce absenteeism and ensure that health professionals take their responsibilities seriously.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, revealed this during a meeting with administrators of public hospitals in Awka, the state capital.
He saw that many health personnel were absent during his unannounced trips to hospitals and that several health facilities did not open for services. According to Obidike, such attitudes have contributed to the state’s mortalities and hampered growth in the health sector.
He said; “This is part of the reasons for the installation of the clock-in device in all government hospitals; it is to ensure that healthcare workers are at their duty posts to attend to the health needs of the people.
“The device will also be used to monitor the hours health workers put in each day and that will subsequently determine their monthly salaries and allowances.
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“The goal is to eliminate maternal and infant mortalities, as well as restore the confidence of our people in the healthcare services we provide in the state.
“We are establishing the ‘Hub and Spoke’ approach for proper networking among the hospitals. Telemedicine will also allow primary healthcare centres to have access to different doctors.
“We are strengthening at least one general hospital in each local government area so that primary health centres can refer patients when the need arises.
“The state government is doing all it can with limited resources and as healthcare providers, we cannot afford to fail.”