Fellow Nurses Africa | Lagos, Nigeria | 22 September, 2025
In a resolute and authoritative statement, the Ebonyi State Government has categorically debunked recent claims suggesting the recruitment of auxiliary nurses in its state-owned hospitals. This clarification, issued by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, comes just days after Fellow Nurses Africa reported that the state was advertising for auxiliary nurse roles, sparking widespread concern within the healthcare community.
Dr. Ekuma, in a press release dated September 22, 2025, firmly dismissed the rumors, reaffirming the state’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of healthcare delivery.
“The Ministry of Health has never considered, nor will it ever consider, deploying auxiliary nurses in any of our hospitals,”
he stated. Instead, the state is actively engaging qualified and licensed professionals, including Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) and skilled birth attendants, to bolster primary healthcare services.
The Commissioner clarified that the state’s recruitment efforts focus on Community Based Health Workers, who are tasked with supporting doctors in primary health centers. These workers, including junior community health extension workers, are recruited to serve within their local communities, acting as critical links between residents and healthcare facilities. Their primary roles include registering pregnant women for antenatal care, ensuring timely immunizations for children under five, and guiding patients to certified health centers for treatment. Dr. Ekuma emphasized that these workers are not substitutes for qualified medical professionals and do not function as auxiliary nurses.
This announcement addresses the concerns raised by Fellow Nurses Africa and other stakeholders, reassuring the public that only certified and licensed health professionals are employed in Ebonyi’s state hospitals. The recruitment process, Dr. Ekuma noted, involves selecting ten community health workers per INEC-recognized political ward, ensuring comprehensive coverage and effective healthcare delivery across the state.
Dr. Ekuma urged Ebonyi residents to approach state health facilities with confidence, emphasizing the Ministry’s dedication to maintaining a workforce of fully qualified professionals.
“Our hospitals are staffed with certified and licensed personnel, and we remain steadfast in delivering quality healthcare to all,”
he affirmed.
This development underscores Ebonyi State’s commitment to transparency and excellence in healthcare, dispelling misinformation and reinforcing trust in its medical institutions.
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