Kogi state Government says it is set to recruit additional seven hundred health professionals to help to sustain its health coverage in the state .
The Commissioner of health , Doctor Saka Audu Haruna made the disclosure while flagging off of the ‘Nursing Now Campaign in Lokoja,the state capital.
He also announced the establishment of committee tagged “inter professionals Association committee ‘to resolve disputes among various Heath bodies in the state.
Doctor Saka noted that the crisis rocking health bodies if not amiably settled would affect Government’s effort to deliver effective and efficient health services to the populace .
He described the nursing profession as unique and Noble as their services to humanity cannot be equantify
Doctor Saka said Government was working out modalities to resolve the disputes that led to the close down of the Federal medical center Lokoja.
In a message on the occasion, the Speaker of kogi State House of assembly, Right honourable Mathew Kolawole assured that the house would collaborate with the ministry by making law that will help to weed out quack practitioners in the state.
The speaker who was represented by the Chairman house committee on health and member representing Lokoja one constituency, Alhaji Isah Tenimu commended nurses for their efforts in saving the lives of the citizens.
In his remark , the permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mallam Abubakar Babamaaji Dalami stated that the Nursing Day is the occasion that Nurses are celebrated . He appreciated them for their selfless sacrifices in helping humanity while encouraging them to do more in the health sector and that very soon, they will be enjoying a lot of good packages from His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
In a keynote address, the state Director of Nursing Mrs Martina Oguche said this year celebration is focusing on five critical areas which are , ensuring nurses and midwives have prominent voice in health policy making, recruiting more nurses into leadership positions, conducting research that help determine where Nurses can have the greatest impact.
Various Goodwill messages came from the state head of civil service Mrs Deborah Ogunmola,The Executive secretary of Primary Health Care Development Agency, Doctor Abubakir Yakubu, and Acting Director of Nursing services , hospitals management board,mrs,MB Olorunnyomi among others.
Dorothy L Onoja
PRO Ministry of Health