The Cross River State Governor Sen Bassey Edet Otu, has the Ministry of Health to redeploy critical health personnel from urban locations to underserved rural communities across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, made this known to newsmen on the deplorable nature of healthcare services in Calabar.
Dr Ayuk, said that Governor Otu has also ordered the ministry to commence implementation of improved conditions of service for health staff.
While the Otu’s-led administration is taking urgent steps to address the ailing situation in the health sector, the Commissioner said, he had been directed to engage contract staff as a stop gap to align with what is obtained in the federal service.
Ayuk who noted that, in its avowed commitment to improve the standard of health services in the State, the Governor has graciously lifted employment embargo to allow recruitment of critical staff.
“The governor had also directed the Ministry of Health to redeploy critical health personnel from urban locations to underserved rural communities,
“The governor has directed the ministry of health to commence implementation of improved conditions of service for health staff to align with what is obtained in federal service,” he said.
“He had also directed the Ministry of Health to redeploy critical health personnel from urban locations to underserved rural communities, as well as engagement of contract staff as a stop gap,” he stated.
On the shortage of infrastructure, the Commissioner said that the present administration is making efforts to revitalise at least one primary healthcare centre in each political ward in the State.
He appealed to Cross Rivererians to be patient over the present health care situation which according to him it is not peculiar to only Cross River State, but across the country.