From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared two medical doctors wanted for allegedly abandoning their duty posts after being trained for eight years with state resources.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, made this known during a press conference in Uyo on Tuesday.
He identified the doctors as Dr. Uduakabasi Ita, a Consultant Radiologist, and Dr. Mfonobong Bassey, a Consultant Hematologist, both of whom are staff of the state Ministry of Health.
John said the doctors left their posts for “greener pastures” without first serving the state as required to cover the cost of their training.
“The state government has repeatedly said that any medical personnel it trains is bound to first serve the state to cover the cost of the training before they will be allowed to leave. The Ministry of Health has declared them wanted. We will stop their salaries and track them until we find them,” he said.
According to him, the state would also reach out to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and other foreign medical councils where necessary to ensure the erring doctors were stopped from practicing until they complied with the agreement.
“It is in their best interest to immediately report to the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health. Now that they have not been invited and there is no issue, we ask that their families reach out to them to report immediately,” John added.
The commissioner warned that going forward, all medical personnel trained by the state must serve out the agreed years before resigning. He said those unwilling to do so would be required to refund the full cost of their training.
He stressed that government would not allow its best-trained hands to exit service for “greener pastures” without first serving Akwa Ibom people.
John commended Governor Umo Eno for declaring a state of emergency in the health sector, saying the state was well-positioned to achieve a stronger healthcare system under the administration’s ARISE Agenda.