BAUCHI GOV DECLARES INTEREST IN PAYMENT OF DOCTORS' ENTITLEMENTS

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State has declared total interest for the payment of health workers' entitlements as it will go a long way in saving the lives of the citizens.

The Governor announced this when the National officials of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors paid him an advocacy visit at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi.

Governor Bala Mohammed said that he is ready for the payment of entitlements of doctors as part of his desire of bringing to an end, the current challenges facing the healthcare system in the state.

According to him, the steps will also assist in restoring the lost glory of the sector thereby ensuring effective healthcare delivery.

He also declared interest to work with critical stakeholders for improvement in the health sector and to reduce infrastructural gaps not only in the state, but in the country in general.

"On behalf of the Government and people of Bauchi State, I am highly delighted and privileged to welcome you to Bauchi. We believed that the choice of Bauchi is not misplaced because of the pedigree of the people we have."

"We are very proud of the doctors we have in Bauchi which most of them are your members, the welfare of the members of your association in the state is paramount."

He applauded the outstanding performances of health workers in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 and attributed it to the successes so far recorded.

Governor Bala Mohammed pleaded with resident doctors sponsored by the State Government to come back to their state to contribute to the development of the sector in order to ensure effective service delivery.

"We know why doctors are not working as expected, it is because of the inability of government to meet their minimum requirements and entitlements. And I am ready to meet that entitlement because it is a statutory requirement."

"So I request you to continue to make sacrifices, in Bauchi we suffered a lot due to shortage of qualified doctors and I want to assure you that we will do something on your request for health insurance and other opportunities."

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Aliyu Maigoro, who led the resident doctors on the courtesy visit, said that the officials would among others, conduct medical and other health related activities as part of their annual general meeting.

"The strategies used to select Bauchi as venue for their meeting was based on our performance in the health sector and how we are managing our COVID-19 patients."

The National President, Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Aliyu Sokombo, acknowledged what he described as the outstanding performance of the State Government in the healthcare delivery.

The President said that based on their findings, Bauchi is among the few states that implemented the 15 percent budget allocation for the health sector in addition to declaration of state of emergency in the sector and declaring free maternal and child health as well as other several policies introduced to fight Lassa fever and COVID-19.

"Your Excellency, we are here in Bauchi for obvious reasons, outstanding performance of the state in terms of healthcare delivery, we deemed it necessary to visit you to appreciate your leadership style."

"His Excellency is among the governors that implemented the 15 percent budget allocation to the sector, we are aware that your administration has declared a State of Emergency in the health sector to improve the healthcare system."

Dr. Aliyu Sokombo therefore requested the State Government not to sustain all the policies initiated in the sector in order to ensure sustainable development.

"Your Excellency, we have considered you as the Governor worthy of emulation because of your commitment to improve the healthcare system, we have also discovered your plans for the implementation of health insurance for workers."