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