Some health professionals in the Upper East Region have demonstrated their eagerness to ditch the region and continue their profession in other parts of the country and even outside the country.
These professionals took to social media to express their utter disgust for the structure of health in the Upper East Region.
Their comments were in response to the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi’s, concern about the number of healthcare workers who are requesting to leave the region despite the shortage of health professionals.
“I must say that for every human resource issue that we are talking about, at least 90 percent of them are requesting to leave the region.”
Mr. Dzotsi said this on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show on May 23, 2022.
Speaking on health infrastructure, the Regional Health Director said the region is not doing badly for now.
Edward Abanga said, “for sure, I’m one who would anytime leave.” He explained that the health system in the Upper East Region does not allow health professionals to further their careers.
“[It] is pathetic. The reasons are many. [It] is like health workers are under slavery here. You can’t explore academics whiles working, unlike other regions that give opportunities for all. You can apply 5 times and not [be] given study leave. Your promotion can pass and you’re not promoted. They have killed people’s dreams. Corruption is killing the hierarchy.”
“How can a senior colleague apply for the same course as the junior colleague in the same year and when the study leave came, the junior colleague had it and they told the senior one [that] limited quota. How? Just ask how? They all applied for the same course in the same year,” he lamented.
Makaveli Adam also wrote, “what do you expect? Soon it will be 98%. Take a look at the other regions that are attracting the exodus of your staff. Look at what they’re doing right that’s attracting other regions’ staff to them. Working as a health worker in the Upper East Region is tantamount to mental torture. [There is] Nothing inspiring about health care service or delivery in the region.”
Stephen S. Sonnebe also wrote, “I have worked for six years and [have been] denied study leave but others just worked two years and were given study leave in the same Subdistrict with me and the same course of choice.”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
