UNN researchers urge Enugu to tackle absenteeism at primary health centres
- A University of Nigeria Nsukka research group presented findings on health worker absenteeism in Enugu primary healthcare centres.
- The study tested transport support, workplace support and community monitoring in four facilities from August 2025 to January 2026.
- Researchers want the state government to turn the evidence into policy and strengthen accountability.
A research group at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) don ask Enugu State Government to do something about health workers wey dey skip duty at primary healthcare centres (PHCs), saying patients dey wait for staff wey no dey show up.
The Health Policy Research Group (HPRG) make the call for one stakeholders' policy dialogue for Enugu, where e present findings from one study on absenteeism and accountability for PHCs. The meeting bring together the state Ministry of Health, the Primary Healthcare Agency, the National Health Insurance Authority, community stakeholders and media.
Prof. Obinna Onwujekwe, wey coordinate the group, talk say the aim na to move research evidence into government policy instead of leaving am for paper. He talk say decisions suppose dey guided by findings, not assumptions.
Wetin the study find
Dr Pamela Ogbozor, one research associate with HPRG, talk say the intervention run from August 2025 to January 2026 for four PHCs for Nsukka and Igbo-Etiti for Enugu North, and for Nkanu West. Eight other facilities serve as controls, where dem no introduce any interventions.
For the facilities where dem apply the interventions, all health workers dey regularly complete attendance registers, compared with 90 per cent for the control facilities. Also, 15.4 per cent of workers for the intervention facilities dey leave before their shifts end, against 48 per cent for the control group.
Ogbozor list absenteeism as failing to report for duty, arriving late, or leaving before the end of a shift. She warn say e fit expose patients to complications and death, and e dey pile extra workload on the few staff wey dey on duty.
According to Onwujekwe, the research point to transport problems, weak support inside facilities and limited community involvement as drivers of absenteeism. The group prioritise three fixes: transport support for health workers, especially those wey dey serve remote communities; support systems where colleagues dey cover for one another; and community participation in monitoring services.
He talk say combining the three fit significantly cut absenteeism. He also acknowledge the state's clock-in system for monitoring attendance, but talk say attendance tracking alone no be enough.
Mr Stephen Obi, wey represent the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), describe absenteeism and ghost workers as serious challenges for the commission. He talk say he go take the information from the dialogue back to ICPC.
Wetin go happen next
The group expect the state government and other policymakers to adopt the recommended interventions across Enugu's PHCs. Onwujekwe talk say the research complement the state's efforts, so that newly built health centres no go dey without health workers.
