Benue woos 15 newly inducted doctors to boost healthcare delivery

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has appealed to 15 newly inducted medical doctors of Benue origin to return to the state and contribute to improving healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities.

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche, made the appeal during the induction and oath-taking ceremony of newly qualified medical doctors of the University of Jos, held at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State.

The ceremony, which took place on Thursday, November 12, 2026, saw 67 medical graduates formally inducted into the medical profession after successfully completing their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programme and final qualifying examinations.

Of the 67 graduates, 15, representing about 22.4 per cent, are indigenes of Benue State.

Ogwuche, who was represented by the Director of Medical Laboratory Services in the state Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mr Anyebe Ameh Boniface, congratulated the inductees on their achievement and conveyed the goodwill message of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

He particularly acknowledged the significant number of Benue indigenes among the graduates and urged them to consider returning home to contribute their expertise to the state’s healthcare system.

The commissioner said the Alia administration was committed to revitalising the health sector through investment in human resources, improved welfare of health workers and equitable distribution of medical personnel across the 23 local government areas.

He noted that the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare was reflected in the prompt payment of salaries, clearance of inherited arrears and efforts to restore dignity to public service.

On the state’s Medical Doctors’ Bond Programme, Ogwuche explained that the initiative was designed to address the shortage of medical personnel and the growing challenge of brain drain, while ensuring that residents across the state have access to quality healthcare.

He said the programme should not be viewed as a punishment or restriction but as a commitment between the government and young medical professionals to give back to the society that contributed to their education and development.

The commissioner encouraged the newly inducted doctors to embrace rural postings, stressing that serving in underserved communities offered an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to society rather than constitute a professional setback.

He illustrated the need for medical personnel in rural communities with the cases of a pregnant woman in Guma requiring emergency obstetric care, a child battling severe malaria in Logo and an accident victim in Oju, whose chances of survival could depend on the timely availability of qualified doctors.

Drawing from his experience as an alumnus of the University of Jos, Ogwuche urged the young professionals to return to Benue, noting that their expertise was needed to strengthen healthcare services and improve access to medical attention, especially in rural areas.

The commissioner also held an interactive session with the executive leadership of the Benue Medical Students Association (BEMSA), where discussions centred on the benefits and implementation of the Medical Doctors’ Bond Scheme.

The students used the opportunity to raise concerns and highlight challenges confronting medical students and prospective beneficiaries, while the commissioner provided clarifications on the programme.

The 15 Benue indigenes are among the young professionals the state government hopes to attract into its health workforce to address manpower shortages in general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities.

Ogwuche reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of health workers and creating an enabling environment for medical professionals to practise and advance their careers in the state.

The ceremony ended with the formal induction of the 67 graduates, as the Benue Government renewed its appeal to the 15 indigenes to return home and deploy their professional skills in the service of their people.