Worried about the rate at which medical workers leave the country for greener pastures, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria(MDCAN), ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane ,Enugu Chapter has appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to come to the rescue and save the medical sector.
The group expressed fear that if brain drain is not checked, in no distant time, ESUT Medical School will lose accreditation and be deserted.
Chairman of the association, Dr Umezulike Okafor, made the appeal on Tuesday, when he led the newly elected and past executives of the Association on a courtesy visit to Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu.
He said that they are new executive members of the association.
” It is of note that since 2015 that you took over the leadership of the state, that a lot of good changes and good things had happened to us and our institution. The ESUT Teaching Hospital and our staff had benefitted from your good work,” he said.
Okafor expressed gratitude to Ugwuanyi for his good works.
‘We are aware that there is a very good relationship between the government and immediate past exco.
Most of these milestones we expressed in your regime had not gone unnoticed.
“We also present ourselves. We are aware that the last exco had a community outreach. We are ready and we are available to partner with the government to improve the health of the people of this state.
“We have a lot of things that will be beneficial to the state. We have a health lecture which will commence in two days.
We will commence a lecture session
“We also have the intention of reaching the populace using the media. Having radio, television programmes, community-based outreach.
“We have not come to burden you with so much of requests. Your deeds have also gone beyond the shores of Enugu State. Our national officers will also like to come and pay a visit and thank you for your good works.
“There are one or two things that we think will help us to improve services, the issue of personnel. We suffer brain drain. We have a Department that about five years ago, we had about 10 medical personnel”.
Responding, Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Simon Ortuanya, assured members of the association that the state government will look into their requests.
He thanked them for coming and for the smooth transition of the new executive. He also thanked them for the support they have been giving the state , especially during the Doctors’ strike.
“We will be willing to receive the national body of Consultants in Enugu”.
He said that they were aware of brain drain and they were doing something about it.
” Government is aware of it and Government is trying to take some steps about it” the governor said.
“I am proud to say that this government has been very friendly with our Consultants.”
He appealed that the association’s labour-friendly atmosphere with the government will continue.
The chairman was accompanied to the visit by Dr Asogwa, (Vice – Chairman, )Dr Eze Chukwuemeka,( secretary, Mrs Ozoagu( treasurer) Dr Ezeme, Gideon Anigbo, Dr(Mrs) Okoloagu, Dr Ohai( National Officer), Dr Ani, Dr Ekwechi,( former secretary),Dr Enebe, Dr Onyinye Chime(former treasurer) and others.
