From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Dr. Yusuf Jamiu, President of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH), has lamented over the high cost of living.
The ARD-UITH president, stated this at a press conference organized to mark the 2024 Annual General Meeting and Sir Ademola Aderibigbe Scientific Conference in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Jamiu emphasised that the devaluation of Naira has negatively impacted the cost of living of resident doctors, making it difficult for them to provide quality healthcare services.
“The devaluation of the naira has increased the financial burden on resident doctors, making it challenging for them to afford basic necessities,”
Despite these challenges, the association has continued to provide quality healthcare services to Nigerians.
“We were able to advocate for better welfare for our members and in conjunction with hospital management, repair of call rooms and provision of bedsheets for doctor call rooms,” Jamiu said.
The ARD-UITH president also advised Nigerians to adopt backyard gardening to obtain necessary nutrition, citing inflation on foodstuffs as a major concern.
The 2024 Annual General Meeting featured a week-long event, including free medical outreach and eye surgery for indigent people living in Kwara.
The theme of the week is “Reshaping Residency Training in Nigeria: Digital Technology, Financial Inclusion, and their Impact on Residency Training”. The sub-theme for the AGM is “The Effect of Climate Change on Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases: Bridging Reality and Research for Wholistic Healthcare”.