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| Ucth interns protesting nonpayment of their salaries |
The management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has suspended for one month, the current medical internship/housemanship programme run by the hospital, GRASSROOT REPORTERS can report.
A medical internship programme is a compulsory one-year programme for medical and paramedical graduates who have completed their medical degree programmes but does not yet have permanent license to practice unsupervised.
The hospital's decision may not be unconnected with the series of protests carried out by the interns following the nonpayment of their over eight months salary arrears.
The medical Interns comprises of house officers (doctors), medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, nurses, dental therapists, radiographers amongst others.
GRASSROOT REPORTERS gathered that some of the interns were last week, invited by the State Security Services (SSS) following a WhatsApp message by an intern allegedly suggesting the kidnap of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, until their salaries are paid. The interns were however released after being questioned by the security agency.
Announcing the suspension of the programme in a circular signed by the Director of Administration, Ededet Eyoma, dated August 2, 2021, and obtained by GRASSROOT REPORTERS, the hospital said the decision was occasioned by the security challenges currently faced by the hospital and the activities of the current interns.
The circular read in part:
"I am directed to inform the hospital community that the internship programme of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital has been suspended for one month with effect from 2nd August, 2021. This is consequent upon the security challenges experienced in recent times, occasioned by the activities of the current interns".
He further added that the reason for the suspension was to enable the management of the hospital to find lasting solutions to the issues involving the current internship programme in the hospital.
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