From Dauda Iliya
The Committee on the verification of health workers has uncovered 91 ghost workers operating in different health institutions in Borno state.
Similarly, the committee also identified 21 health workers including nurses operating with fake certificates.
Chairman of the committee, Dr. Joseph Jatau revealed this on Monday while presenting the committee’s report to Governor Babagana Zulum at the governor’s office, Musa Usman secretariat, Maiduguri.
Dr Jatau explained that among those discovered with fake certificates are some nurses, and other medical and support staff.
He noted that over 23 million naira was discovered as being wrongly spent as salaries of some health workers who had either resigned or withdrawn from service on monthly basis.
In the light of its findings, the committee made 13 recommendations that could help reposition the Hospital Management Board (HMB) for optimal healthcare service delivery in the state .
Responding, Professor Babagana Zulum directed that disciplinary measures should to be taken immediately after the exercise.
Governor Zulum who expressed happiness with the discovery however expressed concern that some health workers could use fake certificates despite the risk of handling mishandling the medical cases of patients without requisite training and certification.
“Honestly, we shouldn’t let this go, we should ensure appropriate actions are served to the culprits. I cannot be lenient on matters involving life and death. Importantly also, we have to employ measures to avert future occurrences”