ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ABAKALIKI | for housemanship

MBBS AND BDS (PORTAL CENTER)

 FETHA is widely recognized for its efficiency, high-quality healthcare delivery, and reputation as a top-tier training center in the South-East region of Nigeria.

Location

• City: Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

• Centers:

  • FETHA 1: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics.

  • FETHA 2: Internal Medicine, Surgery, and other departments.

• Distance: About 1 km apart.

• Transport:

  • Keke – ₦250

  • Bike – ₦400

• Nearby Landmark: The National Obstetric & Fistula Centre (NOFIC) shares a fence boundary with FETHA 2.

Accommodation

ACCOMMODATION IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

• Allocation: First come, first serve. You may wait weeks or months before being assigned a room.

  • Pending allocation, you can either sleep in the call room or stay temporarily with a friend.

• Condition: Rooms are empty upon allocation — you’ll have to furnish them yourself (bed, mattress, fridge, mirror, etc.).

• Facilities:

  • 2 HOQ complexes in FETHA 1

  • 300-room self-contained complex in FETHA 2 (shared with Registrars)

  • Clean, spacious rooms with 24-hour power and water supply.

  • One person per room.

• Fees: ₦160,000 per year + ₦120,000 light bill = ₦280,000 total per year.

• Alternative: Grace Court (old hotel near FETHA 1) – similar price, also unfurnished.

• Off-campus: Available but very expensive.

Workload

🔴 Downside:

• Heavy workload, especially in Neurosurgery (notorious 14-day uninterrupted calls).

• Frequent queries and risk of extension.

• Mandatory overnight calls.

• Few recreational options for HOs.

• Early starts — 7 AM ward rounds, morning reviews, and grand rounds.

🟢 Upside:

• Neat, modernizing hospital — ongoing renovations.

• Prompt, standard patient care.

• Exposure to rare and complex cases.

• Friendly consultants (SRs can be tough, but JRs are very approachable).

• Increasing workload now being diverted to NOFIC, reducing pressure.

Salary & Allowances

• Monthly Pay: ₦267,000 (same as MDCN scale).

• No additional allowances mentioned.

Flex & Lifestyle

• Environment: Calm, safe, and serene — little to no cult activity, kidnapping, or night crime.

• Leisure Spots:

  • Cinemas

  • Resorts

  • International market

• Transportation: Constant bike and keke availability.

Orderliness & Work Conditions

• Responsibilities:

  • Administer IV drugs and infusions

  • Pass and change urinary catheters

  • Handle blood transfusions

  • Clerk patients (at least 30 cases per department)

  • Participate in morning reviews and grand rounds

• Dress Code: Strictly corporate attire at all times.

• Documentation: Logbooks must be properly filled.

• Administration:

  • HR is very efficient – documentation is completed within 1–3 hours.

  • Works department is friendly but room assignment delays due to long queue.

  • Some toxic senior colleagues (SRs) reported.

Food

• Call Meals:

  • Weekdays: 1 meal/day

  • Weekends: 2 meals/day

  • Meals are top quality and can sustain most HOs.

• Food Access:

  • Plenty of food and fruit vendors nearby.

  • Affordable markets for home cooking.

  • Ebonyi’s famed for locally produced rice, palm oil, salt, garri, and vegetables.

Key Takeaway

FETHA remains a top pick for MBBS and BDS housemanship in Nigeria.

• Accommodation is tough but manageable with patience.

• Expect an intense workload but excellent learning exposure.

• Strong administrative efficiency, good infrastructure, and quality meals make it rewarding overall.

• A good fit for those who value discipline, structure, and skill development in a clinical environment.
  
  Dr. A. A (Visited FeTHA but cancelled '25)