iDeemlawfulThe Akwa Ibom Government has declared two medical doctors wanted for allegedly abandoning duty after being sponsored for eight years of training by the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Ekem John, disclosed this at a press briefing in Uyo on Tuesday.
John identified the doctors as Uduakabasi Ita, Consultant Radiologist, and Mfonobong Bassey, Consultant Haematologist, both employees of the state Ministry of Health.
He explained that the doctors left their posts in search of greener pastures without first serving the state to offset the cost of their training.
“The state government has repeatedly said that any medical personnel it trains are bound to first serve the state to cover the cost of the training before they will be allowed to leave for greener pastures.
“The Ministry of Health has declared them wanted. We will stop their salaries; track them until we find them. Any country they go to, we will go to the Medical and Dental Council of that country and we will stop them.
“It is in their best interest to immediately report to the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health as we will not be held liable once the Medical and Dental Council begins to sit.
“Now that they have not been invited and there is no issue, we ask that their families reach out to them to immediately report to the Ministry of Health,” he said.
The commissioner added that, henceforth, all medical professionals trained with state funding must serve the stipulated years in Akwa Ibom before resigning.
He urged the doctors to return to their positions in the civil service or repay all funds invested in their training.
The commissioner insisted the government would not allow top medical talent to leave for “greener pastures” without first serving the people of Akwa Ibom, who funded their education.
He praised Governor Umo Eno for declaring a health sector emergency, stressing that the ARISE Agenda of the administration was positioning Akwa Ibom for a stronger health system.
