Adeleke: We are fighting Japa among health workers in Osun

Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun State, has stated that his administration is devoted to combating ‘Japa’ syndrome among health personnel in state hospitals.

On Friday, he claimed he had approved the payment of hazard allowances for health professionals in the state while speaking at the launching of the State Health Insurance Agency’s multi-million naira headquarters in Osogbo.

He also stressed the importance of Osun residents enrolling in the State Health Insurance Scheme, saying it is cheap and provides comprehensive healthcare service delivery.

His words, “We are creating an enabling environment to retain our health professionals. We target action against japa syndrome. Our government has approved the full payment of Hazard allowances to all our health staff as approved by the Federal Government. We also intend to replace all healthcare workers who have left with new ones with improved packages. This has been adequately appropriated for in the 2024 budget.

“Our government recognizes the importance of health insurance and intends to reduce or even eliminate out-of-pocket payment for treatment in the hospitals. That is the reason for making it compulsory for all political office holders to enroll in the Osun Health Insurance Scheme in addition to civil servants that are also compulsorily enrolled”.

In the address of the Executive Secretary of OHIS, Dr Rasaq Akindele disclosed that about 4,000 Osun state residents from the informal sector have registered in the scheme, adding that about 5 million residents are yet to be enrolled.

He added that, “80 percent of pensioners have been enrolled in the scheme. The genuineness of Governor Adeleke is moving the scheme forward by providing needed funding. I admonish politicians, philanthropists and other well meaning Nigerians to enrolled people around them in the scheme.”