Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has approved a special training fund for 56 medical doctors currently undergoing residency training under the state government’s sponsorship, as part of efforts to strengthen the healthcare system and support medical professionals.
The approval was granted during an interactive meeting between the governor and the resident doctors at the Government House in Maiduguri.
The meeting, convened at the instance of the governor, was aimed at assessing the progress of their training and addressing challenges affecting their performance and professional development.
In addition to approving the training fund, Governor Zulum also directed the immediate implementation of promotional benefits for all resident doctors who are due for career advancement.
He ordered that the promotions be effected without delay and that all outstanding arrears be paid from the effective dates of their respective promotions.
The governor further instructed the Borno State Hospital Management Board to organise a similar engagement with other medical doctors across the state who are not currently undergoing residency training, to ensure inclusiveness and address their welfare concerns.
Governor Zulum reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of healthcare workers, noting that a motivated and well-supported workforce is critical to delivering quality healthcare services to the people.
He emphasised that his government remains dedicated to creating an enabling environment for health professionals to thrive, stressing that improved welfare and training opportunities are essential to achieving better healthcare coverage in the state.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders in the health sector, including the Commissioner for Health, Professor Baba Mallam Gana; the Chairman of the State Hospital Management Board, Dr Joseph Jatau; and the Chief Medical Director, Professor Abubakar Kullima.
Others present were the Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe; the Chief Adviser to the Governor, Dr Mairo Mandara; the Executive Director of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Professor Arab Alhaji Mohammed; and the Chief Medical Director of the Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, Professor Ibrahim Musa Kida.