Nasarawa Considers Special Scholarship Scheme For Indigenes Studying Medicine, Nursing

…..Orders doctors working in public hospitals to close private clinics

Nasarawa State Government is set to introduce a special scholarship scheme, for indigenes of the state studying medicine, nursing and midwifery.

State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Dogo Shammah, disclosed this while briefing journalists shortly after the monthly state executive council meeting, on Friday.

Briefing newsmen on the resolutions taken by the council at the meeting, Hon. Shammah, said the special scholarship scheme to be introduced, will seek to encourage indigenes to take to studying medicine, nursing and midwifery, in order to reduce cases of inadequate personnel in the state’s health sector.

This is just as the state government ordered medical doctors under its employ to shut down their private clinics.

Throwing more light on the order, State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Associate Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, explained that the state executive council, has endorsed the resolution of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, calling for all doctors in government employ, who own and manage private clinics and hospitals, to close their clinics in order to concentrate on the government hospitals were they earn salaries.

“This is to avoid a scenario where government employed doctors divert patients to their private clinics for other financial considerations,” the council stated.