Resident doctors hail Soludo over improved welfare

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) branch has commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for payment of 50 per cent Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to its members.

Dr Joy Okwumuo, president of ARD-COOUTH made the commendation while confirming that members had started to receive payment of 50 percent of MRTF to newsmen in Awka on Wednesday.

She expressed hope that the Medical Residency Act would be domesticated in Anambra and that subsequently, resident doctors would receive 100 percent MRTF on a yearly basis as promised.

“This will facilitate our training programme and help achieve the ultimate goal of boosting the medical consultant cadre that will serve the populace,” she said.

Okwumuo said ARD-COOUTH members were happy that Soludo had joined the league of governors who were paying medical doctors in their states full hazard allowance,

“We, the resident doctors in COOUTH wish to applaud our innovative and proactive governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for responding to some of our welfare demands.

“This includes the commencement of the payment of 50 percent Medical residency training fund and we are hopeful that he will pay 100 percent annually from next year as has assured us.

“However, we want to plead with him to also fulfill his promise to comply with the basic salary increment of 25 percent as contained in national salaries, incomes and wages commission circular of July 25, 2023.

“We also call on him to help the hospital to secure full accreditation for a few departments, this will help us take examination in the affected departments,” she said

Okwumuo said the doctors were proud to associate with the numerous strides of the Solution administration especially in the infrastructure and workforce in the state’s healthcare system.

She appreciated stakeholders who intervened to ensure that there was industrial harmony including Dr Afam Obidike, the Commissioner for Health, the institution’s Chief Medical Director and the Head of Service.

“We also wish to express our gratitude to the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association and Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, COOUTH branch as well as the National Association of Resident Doctors.