Akwa Ibom NMA decries doctor shortage, seeks more medical schools

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Akwa Ibom State has voiced serious concerns over the significant shortage of medical professionals within the state. The association is pressing the state government to take decisive action by establishing a minimum of seven medical training institutions to combat the escalating workforce deficit.

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If there is vacancies for 100,000 teachers in the state, I’m sure you will find them immediately, but recently the State governor, Umo Eno approved employment for 400 doctors and we couldn’t get them. It means that there’s something wrong somewhere.

Professor Aniekan Peter, the NMA chairman, highlighted the issue during a press briefing in Uyo as part of the association's Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference. He lamented the state's consistent failure to meet its employment targets for healthcare workers, emphasizing the urgent need for measures to bridge the shortfall. Peter noted that while the governor recently approved the employment of 400 doctors, the state struggled to find them, indicating a deeper problem. Similarly, an initial search for 700 nurses required relaxing some criteria before the target number was met.

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We were looking for 700 nurses in the first time and we couldn’t get until we relax some of the criteria before we were able to get the number. So it’s time as a people to begin to refocus and that’s why our AGM is all about: Refocusing our attention for the future of health care for Akwa Ibom.

Peter urged the people of Akwa Ibom to refocus their attention on the future of healthcare in the state, which is the theme of their AGM. He stressed that the state government must begin to view medical education as a crucial investment rather than a burden if it aims to strengthen its healthcare system. While acknowledging and commending Governor Umo Eno for approving the establishment of a medical school at the Akwa Ibom State University, Peter deemed the initiative insufficient.

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We appreciate the governor for the approval granted to the Akwa Ibom State University to start doing medicine and other medical courses. But for Akwa Ibom State that is one over four, it’s still a failure, just 25%.

He pointed out that states like Delta already operate multiple medical training institutions. "For Akwa Ibom State that is one over four, it’s still a failure, just 25%," Peter stated, contrasting it with Delta's four medical schools. He argued that medicine should be seen as empowerment, and any state or country failing to recognize this will falter. To be a leading state, Akwa Ibom needs at least seven medical schools to accommodate aspiring students in medicine, surgery, and nursing, ensuring a steady supply of healthcare professionals. Peter also suggested that existing general hospitals could be upgraded into medical training institutions.

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So we thank the governor for opening the first medical school in the state; other states like Delta already had four.