RESIDENT DOCTORS DECLARE NATIONWIDE PROTESTS

Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says its members will embark on peaceful protests nationwide from Wednesday, August 9, if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands.

This is contained in a notice issued after the Association’s National Executive Council (E-NEC) virtual meeting and addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health.

The notice was signed by the President of the association, Dr Orji Emeka Innocent, and the Secretary-General, Dr Chikezie Kelechi.

According to the Association, the move is necessary to press home its demands which have not been met by the government.

As the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) gears up for a nationwide protest, the union decries the mass exodus of its members “every day” to other African countries over “better” working conditions and infrastructure.

The NARD President, Dr Emeka Orji, noted working conditions in the Nigerian health sector had deteriorated to such a degree that resident doctors were migrating to foreign countries.

According to Orji, the number of Nigerian resident doctors has dwindled from 16,000 to between 12,000 and 15,000 in a few years with 1,000 to 2,000 colleagues lost to the japa syndrome annually.

He explained that “they have better working conditions there and that they have better infrastructure.