In a bid to address the rising manpower deficit in the health sector, Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has approved the hiring of 31 medical doctors, 22 pharmacists, and 153 nurses.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, announced the development on Wednesday, highlighting it as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to the health and well-being of Cross Riverians.
Ayuk explained that the surge in individuals seeking services from state-owned public health facilities is due to increased confidence in the current administration’s healthcare delivery efforts. “With a population of approximately 3.4 million people, Cross River has been struggling with only 20 doctors and 938 nurses in secondary health facilities, which is a worrisome situation,” he said.
Governor Otu’s approval to hire more healthcare professionals aims to address this gap. Ayuk noted that the addition of 31 medical doctors, 22 pharmacists, and 153 nurses will significantly improve the capacity of the health ministry and enhance clinical activities across public health facilities in the state.
