In a bid to attract doctors and health workers to the state, the Bauchi State government has approved a new salary and welfare package. The state Head of Service, Mohammed Umar made the disclosure on Friday while addressing the media after the State Executive Council Meeting.
Umar stated that the initiative will address the shortage of doctors and other key health workers in Bauchi state. More so, he revealed that the council approved the welfare package to retain health personnel in the state.
Additionally, the head of service stressed how Governor Bala Mohammed is determined to enhance manpower in the health sector. He added that over the years, doctors, frontline workers, and midwives have abandoned the state due to the poor remuneration and welfare incentives.
Umar narrated that due to the commitment of the governor to boost the health sector, he constituted a committee that investigated and discovered how low salaries led to the exodus of doctors and midwives in the state. The head of service went on to indicate that in addition to the increased salary, other incentives like car loans, housing, and allowances were also approved.
This package according to Umar includes increased salary for NYSC members serving in medical facilities in Bauchi state. Similarly, he added that the Bauchi state government will improve security around medical institutions in the rural areas of the state.
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He said perimeter fences of facilities in the state are also ongoing for improved security. The state official said the government has bolstered the health sector with new equipment to deliver adequate healthcare services.
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Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Sani Dambam applauded Bala Mohammed for improving the condition of the sector. The commissioner highlighted how the governor made the health sector a priority and declared a state of emergency to address major shortcomings.
This move, according to Dambam, has helped eliminate some bureaucratic congestion to push the sector forward. The commissioner pointed to how the Mohammed-led administration organized the first health summit in the region.
Dambam said since Bala Mohammed came aboard, he has consistently allocated 15% of the state budget to the health sector. His innovative policies in the sector according to the commissioner include the re-introduction of a pre-service program that trains health workers.
This initiative, according to Dambam, went into extinction in the previous administration. Lastly, he opined that the new initiative will attract more health workers to the state.
