By Lizzy Carr
The Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has screened 60 candidate for the Cohort 2.0 National Health Fellowship Programme, marking the final phase of the recruitment exercise in the state.
Speaking during the exercise,at the Emergency Operation Center of the ministry the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP )Consultant for the State Ibrahim Mohammed said the screening is aimed at assessing the competence of shortlisted candidates and validating their documents.
According to him, the application portal was opened several months ago by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the National SWAP Coordination Office, where applicants were initially screened before being shortlisted for the physical interview.
“This is the last phase of the recruitment process. The physical interview allows us to assess candidates’ competencies and confirm their credentials before final selection after which they will be posted out to their various local government areas”.
Ibrahim Mohammed disclosed that three candidates were shortlisted from each of the 20 local government areas, making a total of 60 candidates.
He explained that one fellow would eventually be selected from each local government area, similar to the arrangement adopted during the previous cohort.
On the expected role of the health fellows, Mohammed said the programme was designed to groom young health leaders who would serve as a bridge between communities and health facilities, with the aim of improving health outcomes at the grassroots.
The National Health Fellowship Programme is an innovation introduced by the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate and the impact has been significant in Bauchi State.
“We have examples of past fellows, including one who developed a digital accountability application now being considered for statewide adoption, and another fellow in Borno State who introduced a community-based health insurance model using farm produce, helping to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses”.
Mohammed added that the interview process is conducted independently by panels and uploaded in real time to the national dashboard, where successful candidates are automatically selected based on average assessment scores.
He said candidates are assessed across four key thematic areas: motivation; leadership and initiative; collaboration and teamwork; and ethics, stressing that ethics remains critical in the health sector.
Addressing concerns over some applicants appearing without NYSC certificates, Mohammed said the issue had been communicated to the national office.
“Ideally, no candidate should reach this level without an NYSC certificate. However, where an entire local government is affected, the national office will revisit the screened applicants to ensure that no LGA is denied representation”.
Also speaking, a member of the panel representing the traditional institution Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa, described the interview exercise as a success that would positively impact communities and the health system.
He noted that candidates were drawn from all 20 local government areas, ensuring equal representation and inclusiveness.
“When the successful candidates are deployed, every local government will benefit directly. This will help health policies, including those aligned with World Health Organization standards, reach every part of the state”.
Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa advised successful fellows to be diligent, committed, and community-oriented in carrying out their duties.
“They should not limit themselves to office work alone. They must go into the field, visit communities, and supervise health activities directly, especially in rural areas where misconceptions about health policies still exist”.
According to him, close interaction with communities will help build trust, improve understanding, and enhance acceptance of health policies across Bauchi State.
Some of the candidates that include Abdulrahaman Ibrahim and Ahmed Abdullahi said the are ready to contribute positively to the their communities through the program.
