By Ihuaku Ogu
Gov.Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, has on Friday approved the release of over N300 million as grant to 389 medical doctors in the state civil service who are on residency training.
Fubara said that the released fund would cover for the 2023 and 2024 Residency Training Grant requirements with payments ranging from N800,000 to N900,000 per resident doctor for each year.
The Governor stated that a total of 215 resident doctors received the funding for the year 2023, while 174 resident doctors received the training grant in 2024.
He said that the residency training grant funding was paid twice in the past 16 years, with the last payment made in 2018.
He assured that the training initiative aimed at supporting the professional development of doctors, at the Junior and Senior residency cadres would not be frustrated due to absence of the requisite grants that serve as enduring incentives to the health personnel.
The Governor said that comprehensive support for residency training would improve the capacity of healthcare personnel and enhance the quality healthcare services available to the people.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, acknowledged the importance of the course updates and components to the capacity of the personnel to address the challenges in quality healthcare delivery in the state.
Oreh said: “These are essential for doctors to stay current with the latest medical knowledge and practices, ensuring they can provide the best possible care to patients.
“Research is a critical component of medical training, and these funds help cover the costs associated with developing and presenting research proposals and dissertations.
“Also, travelling to examination centres can be costly, especially for doctors stationed in various parts of the State.
“For these examinations which are usually held outside the State, and in some cases, outside the country, this funding ensures that transportation costs do not hinder their ability to attend necessary examinations.
“The examination fees for the Parts I and II residency exams are very expensive, and by covering these fees, the government ensures that financial constraints do not prevent doctors from advancing in their careers,”she said.
Oreh thanked the Governor for giving priority to the welfare needs of personnel in the health sector.
The commissioner emphasised that the Governor’s gesture barely one year in office, would ultimately yield better results in the health sector.