Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has approved the full payment of medical residency training and hazard allowances for all state-employed doctors, covering the rest of 2024 and the entire 2025.
The move is part of a broader push to strengthen the healthcare system and ease the burden on medical professionals.
The announcement was made by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, during a health media workshop organized by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) in Kaduna.
“Doctors will begin receiving an additional ₦35,000 to ₦40,000 monthly on their salaries. This is intended to help reduce their financial hardships,” she said.
In addition to the financial support, the governor has approved the recruitment of 1,800 new health workers to serve at Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the state. The health ministry has also submitted a proposal for the recruitment of additional personnel for secondary health facilities and teaching hospitals, which is awaiting the governor’s approval.
“Very soon, the recruitment portal for the 1,800 PHC workers will go live,” the commissioner added. “We aim to expand our workforce to at least 5,000 nurses and midwives. Currently, we have just over 2,000.”
Speaking at the event, Dr. Anthony Shamang, a health systems consultant representing the Gates Foundation, emphasized the importance of media in transforming healthcare delivery.
“The Gates Foundation has supported Kaduna’s health sector for more than 10 years, starting with routine immunisation. We now focus on broader health system strengthening,” Shamang said. “Media plays a critical role in turning health challenges into stories that inspire action.”
Moji Makanjuola, Executive Director of ISMPH, echoed this message, saying the media are not just messengers but development partners. Represented by Programme Director Solomon Dogo, she stressed the importance of accurate health reporting in influencing behavior and policy.
The workshop, held in Kaduna, is part of a larger initiative in Kaduna, Kano, and Niger states aimed at equipping journalists to advocate for stronger public health systems and raise awareness at the community level. Partners supporting the effort include EngenderHealth, CCSI, and LISDEL.