<<< By Tahav Agerzua >>>
Indigenes of Benue State studying medicine in various universities across the country today scored Governor high for recording what they described as giant strides in the health sector.
The delegation which was led by Martins Alagh spoke when they visited the Governor at the Benue Peoples House.
They lauded his prompt payment of the accreditation requirements at the Benue State University which paved way for the graduation of three sets of medical doctors at the institution as one of his first steps as Governor.
According to the students many of the graduates had stagnated at the school for more than a decade.
The students also acknowledged the reconstruction of the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery as well as the College of Health Technology, Agasha for re-accreditation which they had lost for more than three years.
The spokesman solicited the restoration of the bond scheme for clinical medical students which he said was vital to their graduation.
In his response Governor Ortom promised that the state government would support them from the clinical stage of their programme to enable them graduate without hitches.
He acknowledged the high cost of medical training but noted that government had to suspend the Medical Students Bond Scheme which saw them enlisted into the civil service due to irregularities.
While assuring that other methods would be adopted to ensure that the medical students pull through their programme, the governor directed the commissioner for health and human services to find ways of blocking the loopholes in the scheme so that it could be revived.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo explained that some beneficiaries of the Scheme had abused the programme by not returning to serve the state for two years as stipulated in the agreement.
Dr Ojabo also said other students on the scheme who had graduated were still collecting salary from the state government.
- Leader of the delegation, Martins Alagh speaking
- Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo making her statement
- Cross section of medical students
- Governor Samuel Ortom in group photograph the some of his carbinet members and the medical students.