The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Monday laid the foundation stone of its Housing Estate in Awka, Anambra.
The National President of NARD, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, led other members of the association to perform the sod-turning at Isiagu Layout, Awka.
Okhuaihesuyi said laying foundation stone of the project was the beginning 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.
The national president urged state governors and FCT minister to make land available to the association in their various domains.
Okhuaihesuyi said the project would help reduce the brain drain in the medical sector, especially in the current situation when the sector was overwhelmed with COVID-19 pandemic challenges.
He said the association needed land at affordable rate with Certificates of Occupancy for effective take off of the scheme.
“We want to thank Nigerians and doctors in particular for helping us to get to this stage and we promise to do more and ensure that the project is delivered within the agreed time.
“We want to use this opportunity to appeal to state governors and the minister of health to support the doctors housing scheme because of the multiplier effect it will have on the nation’s health sector.
“We had a 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 discuss it.
“Affordable housing for doctors will reduce the rate at which Nigerian doctors are leaving for other countries in search of better working conditions,” he said.
Also speaking, Chief Daniel Orji, the Managing Director of Daniel-Bob Limited and 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 and streets, schools, churches, recreation centre and police post when concluded.
Orji however, called on the Federal Government to check the rising cost of building materials to enable Nigerians have homes. (NAN)
