Resident Doctors seek continued industrial harmony in COOUTH, appreciate Soludo, Umeakuewulu
By OGEMDI OZOEMENAM, Awka
The National President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman has called for continued industrial harmony between the Anambra State Government and resident doctors in the state.
He stated this when he led a national NARD delegation on a courtesy visit to the Chief Medical Director, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku-Awka, Dr Maureen Umeakuewulu in Awka, Anambra State Capital.
The association has 76 branches domiciled mainly in Federal and State-owned Teaching Hospitals, Specialist Hospitals and Public health institutions of the Federal Capital Territory.
To this end, Dr Suleiman, who was accompanied by the President, Association of Resident Doctors at COOUTH, Amaku-Awka, Dr Joy Okwumuo, observed that the existence of industrial harmony in the teaching hospital is critical to achieving quality healthcare delivery and improve patient care in the state.
He noted that since the inception of the governor's administration, NARD has not registered any new compliant from Anambra, stressing that the union will explore every available opportunity to ensure peace among resident doctors in the state.
"NARD is the most vibrant union in Nigeria. When NARD coughs, Federal Government catch cold; NARD is coughing, but not in Anambra State," he said.
Dr Suleiman further thanked the Governor being the first governor in the federation to implement the consolidated salary structure and professional allowances for resident doctors as well as paying higher than the Federal Government in professional allowances while extending same gesture to all specialists in residency training.
"Federal Government had an agreement with us, which it reneged. So last year, we came on board and Federal Government released a correction, and was implemented first by Anambra State Government.
"In implementing that correction, there is basic salary (consolidated salary) and professional allowances. Governor Soludo pays more than the Federal Government in professional allowances, even extending specialists allowance to all doctors in residency training. That's a feat that the federal government is unable to achieve.
"Again, on Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA), which some us here are part of it's enactment. Am here today to tell you that the governor is implementing MRTA at a rate higher than the federal government.
"One of the things important to us is accreditation for trainers which requires tools, equipments, facilities and conducive environment, not just the brain to teach. Today in this hospital COOUTH, I can see all of them. Thanks to Mr Governor for ensuring that doctors in this institution are trained," he said.
While commending the CMD for the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System, Dr Suleiman said it will plug leakages, make records more accountable and have more teams for research purposes.
Recieving the delegation, the CMD COOUTH, Dr Umeakuewulu who is six months in office, intimated the NARD National President of her administration's mandate to make the teaching hospital a centre of medical excellence in Nigeria.
While itemizing her vision into emergency, short term, medium term and long term plans, Dr Umeakuewulu pointed out some progress reports existing in the hospital.
These include digitalizing medical records from folder history of patients to accountability in drug dispensing; smartcard system that serves as wallet for payment; high-speed internet access and Wi-Fi networks that cover essential spaces; facelift to the emergency unit where oxygen are piped directly to patients' bed and renovation of surgical wards to maintain a clean environment in addition to frequent fumigation and cutting of grasses in the area
Others were security and solar-powered lighting of the premises to illuminate the environment at night; Implant Shop for orthopedic surgeons to use on patients and approval of more than 90% of the cost required for accreditation of medical programmes.
To this end, Dr Umeakuewulu applauded Governor Soludo for building and equipping a Trauma Centre, which according to her, is the first in the South East.###
