NMA Pushes for Unicross College of Medicine
By Ekanem Asuquo
The Cross River chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has called on Governor Prince Bassey Otu to facilitate the establishment of a College of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, as part of efforts to address the shortage of medical doctors in state owned health facilities.
The appeal was made by the Chairman of the association, Dr Epoke Epoke, during an interaction with members of the Cross River State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by the State Chairman, Rt Hon Sunny Etta, at the NMA Secretariat in Calabar.
Epoke said the proposed medical college would create more opportunities for qualified Cross River youths seeking admission to study medicine and other health related courses while helping to bridge the manpower gap in the state's healthcare system.
He noted that many qualified candidates are unable to secure admission into federal universities because of limited admission spaces, the quota system and the federal character principle.
According to him, "The Japa syndrome rattling the health sector in our country is a disturbing phenomenon. But Cross River is peculiar because of the low number of indigenes who gain admission to study medicine and related disciplines in federal universities across the country, especially at the University of Calabar, due to several factors.
"We want the state government, as a deliberate policy, to establish a standard College of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Cross River State. It is achievable. We already have the University of Calabar and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital here to provide the necessary technical and manpower support."
The NMA chairman also advocated the establishment of a state specialist hospital in Ogoja to serve residents of the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.
He said the geographical spread of Cross River makes it imperative for specialist hospitals to be established across the three senatorial districts.
"The topography of the state demands specialist hospitals in every senatorial district. In the South, we already have the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, the Naval Reference Hospital and several privately owned specialist medical facilities. You cannot find such facilities in Ikom and Ogoja, thereby exposing patients in critical conditions, such as stroke, to the risk of death before reaching Calabar because of the long travel time.
"The governor has given utmost priority to repositioning the health sector. We earnestly appeal for the establishment of specialist hospitals in the other two senatorial districts, beginning with Ogoja," he said.
Epoke commended Governor Otu for ongoing reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the state, describing the administration's efforts as significant steps towards addressing manpower shortages and infrastructure deficits.
"We are delighted by the reforms in the health sector aimed at addressing manpower challenges and the infrastructure deficit inherited by the present administration. The governor has graciously approved an attractive salary structure to retain doctors and reduce the exodus of medical personnel to federal health institutions and other states. This demonstrates the priority accorded to the health sector," he said.
He further urged the governor to strengthen collaboration between consultants at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and state owned general hospitals, while approving residency training programmes for doctors employed by the state government.
Earlier, the APC State Chairman, Rt Hon Sunny Etta, said the visit formed part of the party's engagement with critical stakeholders to showcase the achievements of the Otu administration, obtain feedback and gather suggestions for improved governance.
According to him, the interactions were also intended to counter what he described as growing misconceptions, misinformation and deliberate falsehoods about the performance of the present administration.
"These critical stakeholders are important and should not be consulted only during election campaigns. Their views are essential for people oriented policy formulation and implementation," Etta said.
