By Tina George, Minna
Health professionals from Niger state who are working in other states have expressed readiness to return to Niger state to contribute their quota in the development of the health sector.
The Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Bello Tukur disclosed this on Monday during the site handover for the conversion of Shiroro Hotel Minna to IBB University Teaching Hospital.
According to him, several health professionals had left the state for various reasons but now, they are willing to return to the state after the completion of the IBB University Teaching Hospital.
Tukur said that Niger state had some of the best health professionals across the country adding that the administration under Mohammed Umar Bago is determined to bring them all back in its bid to create a new Niger state.
He said that the teaching hospital which is the first in the state would help in reducing travel tourism and serve as a training center for health professionals across the country.
“Residents of Niger state have had to travel long distances coupled with the current insecurity in the state and country which has exposed a lot of the patients to unnecessary dangers when they travel for medical attention.
“The IBB University Teaching Hospital will be a teaching hospital for tertiary level care for health needs in the state and every health need required at that level will be met once the hospital is completed. The health professionals who would be trained in the facility will work within the state and we will have more staff. The IBB University Teaching Hospital will have a huge impact on the state,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Mohammed Gana said that the time for the state to have a teaching hospital was long overdue adding that the teaching hospital would be the best across Nigeria.
