The Cross River Government plans to bolster its healthcare system by hiring 206 medical professionals.
Dr. Henry Ayuk, the Health Commissioner, highlighted concerns about the sector’s prior condition under the current leadership.
When Governor Bassey Otu assumed office, the state had only employed 20 doctors. Acknowledging the importance of human resources and infrastructure, the administration is focusing on enhancing both.
In addition to recruiting staff, the government intends to refurbish numerous Primary Health Centres (PHCs). The governor has authorized the hiring of 31 doctors, 22 pharmacists, and 153 nurses, with plans to renovate 196 PHCs for improved healthcare services.
“When I took over as commissioner for health, I met a sorry health sector where even international donors and partners were leaving the state with only about 20 doctors employed.
“It was on this basis that we had to work in line with the ‘People First’ mantra of the governor to improve the overall wellbeing of the citizens, hence the government’s priority for improved health sector.
“Today, after one year in office, we can boldly say that there is great hope for the health sector with very modest and visible achievements to show.
“The ministry has recorded improvement and development in infrastructure, human resource, access to services, and health quality while clamping down on quacks,” Ayuk noted.
The Commissioner explained that the hiring of additional medical staff aims to boost productivity and improve the quality of care in the state’s public secondary health facilities.
“Today, moribund facilities, especially in the rural areas, have returned to life with 196 primary health centers being mapped out for intervention, with effect from the end of the current quarter.
“The governor has also approved N470 million for the speedy completion of the General Hospital at Ikom.
“The administration has also improved the funding of our institutions of nursing sciences and midwifery, which has facilitated their accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education and other relevant regulatory bodies,” Ayuk highlighted.
