By Williams Danjuma, Gombe
The Gombe State Government has solicited the support of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and other key stakeholders in strengthening the healthcare sector of the state for effective and efficient service delivery.
The State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, made the call at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NARD held in Gombe on Tuesday.
Represented by his Deputy, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, Governor Yahaya particularly appealed for the support and collaboration of NARD in meeting the health needs of the state.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment towards strengthening the healthcare sector, while describing quality healthcare as the foundation for sustainable development.
He noted that, “the influx of people into Gombe State has increased pressure on public facilities, particularly healthcare, making the sector one of the government’s highest priority after security”.
Yahaya, who spoke on the conference’s theme, ‘Strengthening Healthcare Systems: Resident Doctors at the forefront’, described the meeting as timely in view of “emerging and re-emerging” diseases confronting healthcare systems globally.
He urged members of the association to honestly evaluate its performance, uphold professional ethics, pay greater attention to the social and cultural factors influencing healthcare delivery, particularly maternal and child health in northern Nigeria.
He charged members of the association to also ensure that resolutions from the meeting improve Nigeria’s healthcare system and the well-being of its citizens.
In his remarks, the Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Professor Danladi Adamu Bojude, commended NARD for their unwavering commitment despite the challenges facing the health sector.
He reiterated Governor Yahaya’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of doctors and other health workers across the state.
Earlier, the NARD President, Dr Mohammed Usman Sulaiman and Dr Nura Umar, Chairman of the Local Organizating Committee of the Conference, lamented the continued migration of Nigerian doctors in search of better working conditions abroad.
They said Nigeria had over 25,000 doctors in 2012, while the number of Consultants has dropped from about 15,000 to between 5,000 and 6,000, worsening the doctor-patient ratio to about one doctor for every 200 to 300 patients.
They said the conference was intended to draw government’s attention to these realities and stimulate action towards improving Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“The choice of Gombe State for hosting of July 2026 conference is because the Governor listens and attends to the needs of the health sector. I have traveled to some States for similar activity, but it is only in Gombe that we have the Chief Executive seated amongst us. We are grateful and encourage you to maintain the spirit”, Sulaiman said.
The opening ceremony featured the presentation of awards of excellence to the Inuwa Yahaya administration for transformating the health sector in the state.
Leave a comment