by Rachel Ogbu

Youth corps doctors are unwilling to serve in Akwa Ibom State because of extreme poor conditions in health sector coupled with zero payment of the youth corps doctors by the state government, the Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, has said.

During its meeting in Uyo on Tuesday, the state NMA chairman, John Udobang, said the conditions on health sector did not encourage youth corps members to serve in the state.

He identified that for over 20 years, health facility in the state have been unsuitable for accreditation for the training of House Officers.

According to reports, the NMA also criticized the claim by the state government of free health care to children under five years and pregnant women.

A statement 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.

“It is on record that almost 20 years, there has been no health facility in Akwa Ibom State suitable for accreditation for the training of House officers.

“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 entirely 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.”