NYSC Doctors Unwilling to Serve in A’Ibom - NMA

Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch has described as pathetic conditions in which youth corps doctors are not willing to serve in Akwa Ibom State.

The NMA, which stated this during its meeting in Uyo on Tuesday 16th April 2013, said extreme poor conditions in health sector coupled with zero payment of the youth corps doctors by the state government had led to the refusal of youth corps doctors to serve in the state government agencies.The body also faulted the claim by the state government of free health care to children under five years and pregnant women.

State NMA chairman, Dr. John Udobang, said the conditions on health sector did not motivate youth corps members to serve in the state He stated that for over 20 years, there had been no health facility in the state suitable for accreditation for the training of House Officers.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting read, “Youth corps doctors are no more willing to serve directly under the state government as a result of poor condition of service". “Seventeen newly qualified medical doctors employed by the Akwa Ibom State Government in October 2012 and sent to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo for housemanship training, since employed, have not been paid.

“The NMA, Akwa Ibom State Branch frowned on and condemned in its entirety, the recent incident at the Cottage Hospital Ukana in Essien Udim Local Government, where a doctor was verbally assaulted with gutter language by a prominent politician in the state.”