By Justina Njoku
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on the state governors in the country to domesticate and start the full implementation of Medical Residency Training Act. The association made the call in a communiqué jointly signed by its President, Dr Aliyu Sokombo, and Secretary-General, Dr Bilqis Muhammad, at the end of its NEC meeting on Sunday in Abuja.
The association urged the state governments to capture funding of the Medical Residency Training for residents in the state tertiary teaching hospitals during their budgetary allocation just as they frowned at the various state governments owing her members in their institutions, outstanding salary arrears and urged them to pay without further delay to guarantee harmonious working relationship in the states.
The institutes, it stated include the Abia State University Teaching Hospital; Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital; Ado Ekiti, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure and Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
NARD therefore urged the federal government to ensure speedy payments of arrears off minimum wage and salary adjustments. It also called on the federal and state governments to make the issue of security of health care workers a priority both in and outside the hospitals. The association warned that if any of its members is assaulted, it shall suspend work until adequate safety is guaranteed in such institution and the culprit is brought to book fully.
Source: NAN
