Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has approved the payment of a Medical Residency Training Fund of N1 million to each resident doctor in the state civil service.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ekerete Udoh, disclosed this in a statement issued in Uyo on Wednesday.
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According to the statement, the fund is designed to provide financial support to cover various expenses associated with medical residency training, including costs for the multi-stages of examinations, course fees, research projects, personal equipment and accoutrements.
“This would also help produce specialists who will bridge the existing manpower gap, especially at the consultant cadre, across the secondary healthcare facilities and mitigate brain drain in the state,” he said.
He said producing qualified specialists in the different fields of medicine remains a top priority of Mr Eno’s administration.
“As the state gets ready to start the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital, these specialists will provide the needed brain trust to the teaching hospital.
“Quality healthcare service delivery, especially at the primary level, is a key component of the Arise Agenda.
“The Governor has followed through on this, with the construction of and commissioning of model primary healthcare centres in some Local Government Areas, including others that will soon be commissioned.
“The inauguration of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency Board with a clear mandate to start the journey towards ending out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare is another bold move by the Governor in the fulfilment of his campaign promise,” Mr Udoh said, adding that the governor has directed the recruitment of healthcare professionals to help drive his vision in healthcare delivery service.
“The Governor appreciates the robust collaboration between (the state) government and the leadership of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners,” he said.