Niger Delta
Diri’s Health Policies Excites NARD
National President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Osundayo Tope, has lauded the Health policies of the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri.
He gave the commendation midweek, particularly in residency training, employment and welfare of doctors when he presented the Champion of Residency Training Award to the Governor in Government House, Yenagoa.
Dr. Tope said Bayelsa was the only state in Nigeria to domesticate the Residency Training Act and that the Governor had meticulously implemented its provisions, noting that the training of doctors had helped with human resorce management, recruitment, training of skilled health workers among other policies that were lacking in other states of theu country.
He also appreciated the Governor for the 2022/2023 medical residency training grant to resident doctors, implementation of proper placement of doctors and approval of their revised hazard allowance, saying that other notable achievements in the health sector by the Governor included renovation of the House Officers quarters at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, and the implementation of the 35 per cent upward salary review for doctors on call duty.
“Bayelsa is the only state in Nigeria that has domesticated the Medical Residency Training Act. The import of this is that it has strengthened the human resource for skilled health workers as it has helped with equipment in health institutions.
“We are grappling with shortage of manpower in the country. But domestication of the Residency Training Act will bring more people to come work in this state’s health facilities. And this will improve on the global health security and universal health coverage.
“Part of your valuable achievements is that you have also paid the 2022/2023 medical residency training grant to resident doctors in the state. You have even gone beyond that to implement the skipping and proper placement of doctors, and approval of the revised hazard allowance”, he said.
He further stated that Governor Diri had upgraded the state-owned School of Nursing to a College of Nursing, and had employed more than 500 health workers.
Responding, Diri explained that the zeal to revamp healthcare delivery, manpower and equipment was to discourage brain drain in the sector.
He said the health sector was too important to be ignored and that the expertise of its personnel were in demand outside the country after being trained domestically.
“We cannot continue to search for health outside Nigeria when we cannot take care of the very few workers that we already have. There is nothing wrong to also export our skills outside the shores of Nigeria, but let it not be to our own detriment.
“That is why my administration is investing heavily in the health sector. We must sustain our capacity and affect the standard of living of our people. Issues of health and education must continue to gain priority from this government”, Diri said.
The State Chief Executive approved the request for release of fund for the 2024/2025 residency training and the provision of a utility bus for the state chapter of NARD.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Continue Reading
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.
He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.
The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.
He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.
According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.
“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.
“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.
He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.
According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.
Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.
He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.
The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.
“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.
“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said
In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.
He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.
The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.
He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.
According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.
The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.
The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.
The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.
She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.
“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.
“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.
She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.
The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.
The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.
AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.
“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.
“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.
According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.
Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.
“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.
He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.
“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.
Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.
CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.
The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.
Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.