The Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, has ended with a call on government to stem the tide of doctors leaving the the country as a result of poor renumeration, poor facilities and interprofessional rivalry in the health sector.
The event which climaxed with an award night and dinner night, swearing-in of newly elected president, Dr. Esuaiko Akaninyene had in attendance many dignitaries across the length and breadth of Cross River State.
The event which held at Venetian Hall, Calabar was meant to recognise those who have contributed to the growth of the association such as the Chief Medical Director of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Ogbu Ngim and NMA President, Dr. Agam Ayuk.
The out-gone president, ARD-UCTH, Dr. Imoke Echeng, said it was a privilege to serve the association of the association, thanking members for the enormous support his administration enjoyed. He recalled the challenges faced and charged his successor, Dr. Esuaiko Akaninyene to be proactive to management, calculative and engage in advocacies.
He said: "Yes a whole one full and eventful year we had challenges. In as much as we had these challenges there were quite lot of things we were about to achieve within this one year as a union; within this tenure we were been owed salaries arrears as far back 2014 and within this tenure we were able to have payment for those arrears. We had quite a lot of things; we were able to have welfare benefits, supportive to various departments.
"Ideally the hospital should take care of sponsoring our exams, some update courses but because we had challenges with that, this has not been paid over years and it has pile up to some huge amount of financial burden and amount to each individual we are also fighting, we are also advocating for payment to be done. Although We are still having challenges in our call rooms and the way we see our call rooms. With the new management we will have positive interaction and hoping some of these things will change.
"I will advise the new president to be more proactive to management, he needs to be calm, calculated; advocacy is the key. However, there are different stages of engagement when it comes to the union and the management; the last stage is usually confrontational (strike). I hope it won't get there , advocacy will work and shouldn't go to the confrontational stage".
In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn in president, Dr. Esuaiko Akaninyene, disclosed that his quest to contest for the office was borne out of conviction for justice, accountability, equity and fairness of the association, adding that he wants to change the narrative and impression about Resident Doctors (strike actions). He however expressed fear on the magnitude of doctors trooping out of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital on daily basis which he said is as a result of the government not understanding the impacts of resident doctors and seem to do nothing about it.
"My worry is that a lot of people are leaving the country; a lot of doctors are leaving the country because the country is not conducive. The Government don't even understand what they suppose to do, they don't even understand the impacts of resident doctors, so, a lot of people are now leaving the country. My fear is, in the nearest future I don't know whether we will have enough doctors to carter for the number of people we have in this country that is my major fear for now because like the teaching hospital, the number of people (Doctors) that are leaving on daily basis is worrisome and Government seems not to do anything about it and not to understand there is a problem.
High point of the event include oath of office by the new president, swearing in of new executives, comedy, music performance, spoken works amongst others.
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