The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the training of future healthcare professionals as it moves to implement the newly reinstated bursary and medical grant scheme for medical and dental students from the state.
This assurance was given by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, during a meeting with the leadership of the Cross River Medical and Dental Students’ Association Worldwide (CRIMSA-WW) in Calabar on Wednesday. The meeting was convened to deliberate on the implementation framework for the scheme recently announced by Governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu.
Addressing the students, Dr. Ayuk disclosed that government was already developing a robust framework to ensure the effective and transparent delivery of the support package to beneficiaries.
“The Governor has made a formal announcement, and we are developing a meticulous framework to ensure the support is effectively delivered. While this is not a full sponsorship of school fees, it is a significant measure of state support designed to assist medical students during their training,” he stated.
The Commissioner revealed that a committee had already commenced work on the implementation modalities and was engaging with the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders to guarantee a seamless process.
“We are organising ourselves, and we will have another meeting to discuss the logistics further. By the end of this week, we will be able to get this to the Governor’s desk,” he added.
Dr. Ayuk emphasized that the administration remains committed to investing in human capital development, particularly in the health sector, as part of its broader strategy to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Cross River State Branch, Dr. Ezoke Epoke, described the bursary initiative as a strategic investment in the future of healthcare in the state.
According to him, Governor Otu’s vision extends beyond educational grants to the establishment of a state-owned College of Medicine and a state-owned specialist hospital, both of which would require a strong indigenous pool of medical professionals to succeed.
“This is the foundation for much bigger and more important things for the state because indigenous medical doctors are critical to sustainable healthcare delivery. Without a reasonable pool of local professionals, healthcare systems may struggle to meet future demands,” Dr. Epoke said.
Earlier, President of the Cross River Medical and Dental Students’ Association Worldwide, Comrade Hogan-Bassey Lawrence Eyo, expressed appreciation to the state government for restoring educational support to medical students, describing the initiative as a timely intervention.
He noted that the association currently has a database of 478 medical and dental students of Cross River origin studying across various institutions, adding that the cost of medical education now exceeds one million naira on average.
“The grants are vital in supporting students to complete their professional training. We request clarification on the operational modalities, such as eligibility criteria and application procedures, to effectively sensitise and mobilise eligible students for the disbursement process,” he stated.
Hogan-Bassey observed that many students face significant financial challenges during their training and expressed confidence that the bursary scheme would ease the burden and encourage academic excellence.
By Kingsley Agim and Jessica Ubi
