The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Enugu has commended Governor Peter Mbah for employing 100 resident doctors, consultants, and other support staff to address manpower shortage in the state’s health sector.

This was stated in a statement signed by Ofonere Chukwunonso (NARD’s president) and Nnamani Ikemefuna (general secretary) at the Enugu State Teaching Hospital on Sunday.

The doctors commended Mr Mbah for advancing her members from senior registrars to consultants and recruiting over 100 new resident doctors, consultants and other support staff for quality healthcare delivery.

NARD thanked the governor for upgrading security and surveillance architecture in and around the state teaching hospital and supporting accreditation for several departments to promote the training of resident doctors and medical students.

“Governor Mbah recently delivered new ambulances and upgrade of the accident and emergency complex to better align with international best practices, implementation of a policy system to reward productivity among hospital staff and payment of improved hazard allowance.

“The government recently approved the renovation of all the toilets and bathrooms in the wards of the hospital to ensure the safety and comfort of patients and staff.

“We have witnessed the unveiling of construction of hundreds of model type-II primary health facilities in each of the 260 political wards in the state,” the doctors said.

The doctors also commended the chief medical director of the state teaching hospital, Ngwu Bethrand, for imbibing the governance philosophy of Mbah and positively turning around the hospital within a short period.

“The CMD is commended for his commitment to ensuring that all departments in the hospital obtain full accreditation, as well as his undertaking massive infrastructural upgrade projects aimed at repositioning the teaching hospital as one of the top 10 tertiary health centres in Nigeria,” said the statement.

The doctors tasked the state government to accelerate the payment process of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to Resident Doctors in the state teaching hospital, as is obtainable in several other states.

They also tasked the government with an urgent upward review of the salaries of medical doctors in the state to reduce the suffering occasioned by the worsening economic downturn and lower the rate of brain drain of medical doctors.

The doctors said the brain drain of medical doctors is currently alarming, with attendant negative effects on the health indices of Enugu.

“We are also requesting the employment of more house officers, in line with the recent upgrade of quota by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

“We constitute a major and critical workforce in any teaching hospital, and their welfare and well-being should be prioritized by the hospital management and the state government.

”We are ready and poised to ensure industrial harmony and smooth running of the state teaching hospital,” NARD said.

The doctors promised to assist the government in making Enugu a centre for excellence in healthcare and a prime destination for local and international medical tourism. 

(NAN)