By Kingsley Agim
Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has approved the recruitment of 40 additional medical doctors to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state’s 17 public hospitals.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed this in Calabar, on Monday, saying the recruitment is part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to improve access to quality healthcare services and address the shortage of medical personnel in government health facilities.
According to the commissioner, the recruitment will comprise 20 Medical Officers, 10 Senior Medical Officers and 10 Consultant Medical Specialists. He said the vacancies would be advertised, while the recruitment exercise would be conducted by the Cross River State Civil Service Commission in line with established procedures.
Dr Ayuk stated that the newly recruited doctors would benefit from the implementation of the 100 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), recently approved by Governor Otu for medical officers in the state’s public service.
He noted that the enhanced remuneration package is expected to improve the welfare of medical personnel, attract qualified professionals into the state’s health workforce and strengthen the retention of skilled doctors.
The commissioner explained that the recruitment is expected to ensure that each of the state’s 17 public hospitals has an average of three to four medical doctors, thereby improving the quality, efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services.
He described the governor’s approval as another demonstration of the administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector through strategic investments in human resources for health.
Dr Ayuk reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the governor’s healthcare reforms, expressing confidence that the additional manpower would enhance service delivery and improve health outcomes for residents across the state.
The recruitment is the latest in a series of initiatives by the Otu administration aimed at repositioning the state’s health sector through improved infrastructure, better welfare for health workers and increased access to quality healthcare services.