By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Monday, said it was working towards providing affordable housing scheme for over 4000 members across the country.
National President of the Association, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaibesuyi, who disclosed this at groundbreaking ceremony of a housing scheme at Isiagu Layout, Awka South LGA of Anambra State, explained that the project would help to checkmate the spate of brain drain in the sector.
Okhuaibesuyi, while explaining that the housing scheme was executed in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Daniel-Bob Nigeria Ltd, an estate development company, maintained that improved working conditions was not just about salaries increase but ensuring that basic existential needs were met.
“There is high rate of brain drain among Nigerian doctors and we are worried about that. This scheme has to do with accessing the National Housing Fund through FMBN with the aim of addressing the housing challenge of health sector workers. We are targeting those who have indicated interest in the six zones of Nigeria to improve the welfare of members and check brain drain,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chairman, NARD Housing Committee, Dr Collins Iyelobu, said that in Anambra, about 525 members would be accommodated in the first phase, while the second phase would start in the second quarter of 2021 so as to ensuring that 16, 000 doctors in the association were taken care of.
On his part, the Managing Director, Daniel-Bob LTD, Chief Daniel Orji, explained that the equipment to be included in the housing scheme were good access and internal roads, water supply, police post, schools and medical post.
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Health