Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has approved the recruitment of 40 additional medical doctors to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state’s 17 public hospitals.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, announced the approval in Calabar on Monday, describing it as part of the administration’s efforts to improve access to quality healthcare and address the shortage of medical personnel in government-owned health facilities.
According to Ayuk, the recruitment will include 20 Medical Officers, 10 Senior Medical Officers and 10 Consultant Medical Specialists.
He said the vacancies would soon be advertised, while the recruitment exercise would be conducted by the Cross River State Civil Service Commission in accordance with established procedures.
The commissioner added that the successful applicants 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.
Ayuk said the improved salary package is expected to enhance the welfare of healthcare workers, attract qualified medical professionals to the state and improve the retention of skilled doctors within the public health system.
He explained that the recruitment would ensure 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.
The commissioner described the governor’s approval as a further demonstration of the administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector through strategic investment in human resources.
Ayuk reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the governor’s healthcare reforms, expressing confidence that the additional medical personnel would enhance service delivery and improve health outcomes across the state.
The recruitment is the latest in a series of initiatives by the Otu administration aimed at repositioning Cross River’s health sector through improved infrastructure, better welfare for health workers and expanded access to quality healthcare services.
