On August 7, 2024, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State approved the hiring of 31 medical doctors, 22 pharmacists, and 153 nurses to address a critical shortage of healthcare professionals in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, announced this decision in Calabar, highlighting it as a key initiative to improve healthcare services in the state. The move comes in response to the high demand for health services and a notable deficit in medical personnel, with only 20 doctors and 938 nurses currently serving Cross River’s approximately 3.4 million residents.
Dr. Ayuk emphasized that this recruitment will significantly enhance the capacity of public health facilities and better meet the healthcare needs of Cross Riverians.