Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara says he has approved the employment of 2,000 medical personnel to ensure availability of medical personnel.
Governor Fubara made this known when he received on courtesy visit, the accreditation panel of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) led by the Registrar of MDCN, Dr. Fatima Kyari, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Also, on the delegation were the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU), Prof Nlerum Okogbule, together with other principal officers of the College of Medical Sciences of the Institution and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Prof Chizindu Alikor, as well as the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh.
He said, of that number, 1,000 personnel will be engaged by the the Rivers State Health Management Board, and the other 1,000 personnel will be engaged by the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
According to him, these gestures, shows his administration’s commitment to promote quality training within the field of medical sciences in Rivers State.
He said, “They are here, you can ask them, I didn’t send a name because I know these things are not done on Public Relations (PR). They are things you must take the professionals so that we don’t end up breeding doctors that would become disaster to the medical sciences.
“So, I understand where we are coming from and going to. For me and my team, as a government, we know where we are going to. And by the special grace of God, we will hit on our target with your support. So, this collaboration is important to us.”
He also said, “We are presently remodelling about five Zonal Hospitals. You said here that when you came in, you visited our Teaching Hospital. Although, you still remember that it is an old facility.
“But it is the only one we have. It is in this administration that we took it upon ourselves to make sure that the intermediary medical services must function, and we are building up to standard five Zonal Hospitals in the State.”
Governor Fubara assured that when these health facilities are completely put in place with the welfare of doctors in proper perspective, it will be difficult for such personnel in the employ of the State Government to consider abandoning the job and relocate abroad.
The Governor said his administration will do everything within its powers to support the university to keep the standard of studies at the College of Medical Sciences high.
