Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom

The National Association of Akwa Ibom Medical Students (NAAKIMS), University of Calabar Chapter, has appealed  to Gov. Udom Emmanuel to pay its members  five-year arrears of medical grants.

The President of the association, Mr Emmanuel John, made the call in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

He said his colleagues were experiencing untold hardship owing to their inability to receive the grants.

John said: “In May 2015, medical grants were paid in arrears in an attempt to clear the huge backlog then.

“The effect of this was that former medical students, who were already doctors benefited, thereby denying current students who mostly needed financial assistance.

“We had asked the Akwa Ibom State Scholarship Board to stay focused on the payment of students currently in session to maximise the benefits of the grants, but nothing has come out.’’

However, he lauded the government investments in the health sector, especially the construction of Ibom Specialist Hospital and general hospitals in the 31 local government areas of the state.

The NAAKIMS president stressed the need to deploy qualified medical personnel to provide services.

“It has taken us close to two years in the ongoing struggle for the payment of medical study grant.

“We are not going to relent especially at this time where most of our members, who are indigent, are hoping for the alleviation of their prolonged suffering,’’ John said. (NAN)