7 Cross River health workers to face sanction over extortion

About seven primary health care workers at Okuni, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State are to face disciplinary actions over alleged extortion of money, absenteeism and lateness.
Of the 7 workers, 3 are community health extension workers (CHEWS), 2 junior community health extension workers (JCHEW) and 2 are laboratory technicians.

Director General (DG) of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu who paid an unscheduled visit to the facility decried the level of poor maintenance of the PHC Okuni.
She said all the affected staffs would appear before the Board of the Agency in a later date to give their defence.
“We have decided to summon them over continued complaints against them by the Village Chiefs of Okuni”, she said.
She warned health workers across the State to always be at their duty post and extorting money from community members for healthcare services which she described as free.

The DG noted that the public was not supposed to pay for malaria testing and treatment.
She said “tighter sanctions will be meted to erring workers to deter others from sharp practices.
“Help lines will soon be put up for members of the public to send in complains.”
She regretted that three patients at the health centre were allegedly extorted N8000 each by a staff who confessed to the crime.