Abia urges homegrown doctors to return

AState government has appealed to medical doctors trained by the stateowned university, who are practicing overseas to return home and contribute to its sustained quest for medical excellence.

Governor Alex Otti, who commended the practicing overseas doctors for their exemplary performance, however, insisted that they are needed at home to support the institution that gave them the foundation.

Speaking during the 30th induction ceremony for 129 graduate medical doctors of the university by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria ( MDCN), Otti said that the state government has taken steps to provide conducive training, working conditions and remunerations for medical professionals in other teaching hospitals.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, said that his administration has improved the deplorable scenarios met in the health sector upon assumption of office nine months ago.

The Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Onyemachi Ogbulu, represented by his Deputy- Academic, Prof. Godwin Emezuo, showered appreciation to the governor, who is the visitor to the university for renovating and retrofitting the College of Medicine, facilitating its full accreditation, and expressing optimism that the newly inducted doctors will join others before them in doing the university proud.

Registrar of the MDCN, Dr Fatima Kyari, represented by Dr Victor Gbenro, who performed the induction formalities, including administration of practice oaths and allegiance on the inductees, urged them to abide by the ethics of the medical profession, and threatened to sanction any medical doctor found wanting in the practice.

The provost of the university's College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Prof. S. N. Onwere, urged the new doctors to always be guided by the university’s motto "Excellence and Service" and thanked parents and other stakeholders who contributed to their training.