Posted on: Tue 02-04-2024

The Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency has given a strict condition to doctors, nurses, and Community Health Extension Workers engaged under its Expanded Midwives Service Scheme before the payment of their arrears can be made.

The Director, Community Health Services, Dr Maimuna Hamisu in a memo addressed to executive secretaries of State Primary Healthcare Boards/Agency, and which was seen by our correspondent on Monday, insisted that healthcare workers in rural communities must input data from February and March into the electronic log book and complete clearance before they can receive their arrears.

It was also gathered that the memo was circulated on different WhatsApp groups where the health workers under the scheme are members.

PUNCH Healthwise had reported how the unpaid accumulated salaries and alleged ill-treatment from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Sydani Group left the health workers traumatized, impoverished, and stranded.

The report with the headline, ‘How FG scheme for improved maternal, child health in rural areas, impoverished health workers’, was published on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

It chronicled how the health workers who work for long hours get little support from the FG.

While some alleged that the NPHCDA owed them up to six months, others claimed to be owed two, three, and four months, respectively.

Many of them told PUNCH Healthwise that they were redeployed to rural areas, far from their homes, leaving behind loved ones and dependents.

They lamented that they struggle to make ends meet, with little or no pay coming in.

While noting that they are doing their best to serve the communities and by extension, Nigeria, the health workers said the lack of resources and support from the government has made their jobs difficult.

But, the NPHCDA director in the new memo sent to all the executive secretaries of SPHCB/A across states where the scheme is taking place, said the payment processes for February and March are yet to be established until a substantial number of skilled birth attendants have completed their clearance.

He claimed that the clearance for January was concluded in mid-February, insisting that it was responsible for the delayed payment.

Hamisu, however, revealed that the January payment processes have been instituted and payments are expected to be made shortly.

The memo read in part, “In line with the performance management process for the EMSS Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA), you may recall that monthly clearance is conducted to enable the payment of their monthly allowances.

“The SBA clearance for January commenced on 17th January but was concluded mid–February. This consequently led to a delay in payment. January payment processes have however been instituted and payments are expected to be made shortly.

“February and March SBA clearances have been suboptimal across all States, for the following reasons;

“The level of SBAs that are reporting on the Electronic Log Book (ELB) has dropped on a weekly basis

“Validation by the LGA teams through ODK has been challenging and inadequate. There is need for a stronger oversight by the states to ensure the timely conduct of the monthly clearances

“As a result, payment processes for February and March are yet to be established until a substantial number of SBAs have completed their clearance.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we greatly appreciate your patience and understanding in this matter. It is expected that all clearances should be completed by Tuesday 2nd April to enable payments of the SBAs.

“In view of the foregoing, kindly provide the necessary oversight to ensure the completion of February and March clearances i.e. the electronic self-reporting by the SBAs and ODK clearance by the LGA team.

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