By Auwal Umar
Gombe (Nigeria)– Gombe state Council on Health has asked the state government to resume payment of full monthly salaries and allowances of local government health workers which was suspended since 2012.
The Council on Health made the call in a communique issued at the end of its 4th meeting held in Gombe, north east of the country .
 The Council also recommends that relevant health professionals should be involved in procurement of health consumables and equipment as well as the designing of health facilities to ensure that correct specifications are met.
 The state government, the communique said, must ensure that after giving approvals for employment, a mechanism should be put in place to ensure that only trained health workers are employed, especially at the local government level.
 The Council recommends the establishment of blood transfusion services in each senatorial district in the state in order to reduce to the lowest minimum, transfusion transmissible diseases.
Strengthening of drug revolving funds, instead of separating it from the laboratory revolving fund in the state ministry of health, to avoid duplication of efforts.
“The state should establish Hospital Management Board, while the ministry should ensure that Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Physiotherapists and Nurses are included in clinical ward rounds in all hospital in the state
 The Council also recommends the establishment of the state mega drugs distribution center to curtail issues of fake drugs proliferation and bonding of doctors and other health professionals be reviewed from 5 years to 3 years.
The Council wants government to be proactive by taking ownership of the scourge of HIV/AIDSÂ and increase funding, and more efforts should be made in exploring innovative financing methods.
The communique calls on the government to strengthen the capacity of the College of Health Science and Technology Kaltungo, to train medium level manpower for universal health coverage in the state, while the Directorate of Nursing Services in the ministry of health should manage all matters relating to nurses and midwives, as stipulated in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.
