By Abasi Ita
The Cross River State House of Assembly has advanced its effort to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce with the passage of the Medical Residency Training Sponsorship Bill for second reading.
The proposed law seeks to establish a clear legal framework for funding, structuring and administering residency training for medical doctors and dental surgeons in the state. Lawmakers say the initiative will help address persistent shortages of specialists in public hospitals and improve healthcare delivery.
Sponsoring the bill, Hon Cyril James Omini of Yakurr One explained that the legislation aligns with the National Residency Training Act of 2017 and is designed to tackle long standing challenges related to retention of medical professionals in government service. He noted that institutionalizing residency sponsorship will enhance specialist training and build a more resilient health workforce.
Deputy Leader of the House, Rt Hon Davies Etta of Abi, commended Omini for the initiative, describing it as a critical step toward encouraging young doctors to serve in the state after completing their training.
Other lawmakers expressed unanimous support, stressing that sustainable investment in residency training is essential to curbing brain drain, popularly referred to as the Japa syndrome, and boosting the capacity of the state’s health sector.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, praised members for prioritizing people centered legislation and referred the bill to the Committee on Health for further legislative work.