NARD Lays Foundation For Doctors’ Housing Estate In Anambra
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called on State Governments to provide land for the association so that they can executive the Doctors Housing Scheme for their members in various states.
Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, National President of NARD made the call at the foundation stone laying ceremony for its Housing Estate in Awka, Anambra state.
Okhuaihesuyi said laying foundation stone of the project was the commencement of the journey towards the realisation of the dream that every doctor should own his or her house .
He said no fewer than 3,000 members had began contribution to the NARD House Scheme across the country and urged state governors and FCT minister to make land available to the association in their various domains.
The President said the project would help reduce the brain drain in the medical sector especially in this COVID-19 pandemic era when the nation’s health sector was overstretched.
He said they needed land at a affordable rate with Certificates of Occupancy for effective take off.
“We want to thank Nigerians and doctors in particular for helping us get to this stage and we promise to ensure that the project is delivered within the agreed time.
We want to use this opportunity to appeal to state governors and minister of fact to support the doctors housing scheme because of the multiplier effect it will have on the nations health sector.
“We had meeting with the Director General, Nigeria Governors Forum few weeks ago where we presented the issue of making land available for NARD in their various states and he promised that they will discussed it
“Affordable housing for Doctors will reduce the rate at which Nigerian doctors are leaving for other countries in search of better working conditions, at the moment the brain drain is alarming,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Daniel Orji, Managing Director of Daniel-Bob Limited, the developer said that the first 200 housing units of the project in Anambra would be delivered within one year and six months.
He lauded the doctors for taking advantage of mortgage financing to help their members get homes explaining that the estate would have good access/streets, schools, churches, recreation centre and police post when concluded.
Orji however called on Federal Government to check the rising cost of building materials to enable Nigerians own their homes
