The Northern Regional Directorate of Health Services (NRDHS) has embarked on an aggressive plan to attract doctors and other health professionals to serve in the region. As part of the plan, the Directorate has put in place attractive inventive packages for doctors and midwives who accept postings to the region particularly, the rural areas. Dr Patrick Akwasi Tumasi, Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, who was addressing a dinner hosted for 25 housemen, said opportunities abound in the region for research and self discovery. He impressed upon them that there were more opportunities for their professional development in the region than other regions because of the few numbers of doctors in there which gave them the advantage to access further courses abroad. "There are also a few long-serving doctors in the region who were ready to assist you to develop your skills and knowledge and also help you with their expert advice and experience to enable you develop professionally". He announced that by June this year, the construction of five state of the art polyclinics would have been completed at Janga in the West Mamprusi district, Kpandi in the East Gonja district, Karaga in the Karaga district, Tatale in the Zabzugu/Tatale and Chereponi in the Chereponi district. According to him, the completion of these polyclinics offered an opportunity for the young doctors to carry out their practical training. Mr Moses Bukari Magbengba, Northern Regional Minister, assured the young doctors that very comfortable accommodation would be provided them should they accept to stay and work in the region after their housemanship adding, all the district assemblies were ready to assist them in whatever way. The Regional Minister told the young doctors to disabuse their minds of the negative reports they have been hearing and reading about the region, saying: "You are in the region and you will soon find out how peaceful it is with very hospitable people". Source: GNA