Choosing where to do your housemanship can shape both your professional confidence and your mental health. Here’s a clear, honest breakdown of house job life at Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe.
📍Location & Accessibility
Address: Ashaka Road, Gombe State, Nigeria
Accessibility: Easily accessible by road. Transportation within Gombe is generally straightforward, and the hospital is not difficult to locate.
Accommodation
- Status: Limited
- Capacity: Two house officers per apartment
- Apartment layout: One bedroom, parlour, kitchen, and bathroom
- Roommate system: Assigned
- Caution fee: Not clearly defined (confirm on arrival)
Room Features
- Small bathroom
- No functional water heater
- No air conditioning
Kitchen Facilities
- Cupboards
- Refrigerator
- Gas cylinder
Furnishing (per person)
- Bed
- Mattress
- Pillow
Power Supply: Poor and inconsistent
👉 Reality check: Accommodation is basic and functional at best. Many house officers eventually explore off-campus housing if financially feasible.
Selection Process
- Mode: Federal allocation
- Insider tip: Simply apply once the MDCN housemanship portal opens. No special lobbying required.
Salary & Allowances
- Monthly salary: ₦267,000
- Payment pattern: Often delayed; usually paid mid–next month
- Other benefits:
- Feeding/meal tickets when on call
- No structured call allowance
Flex & Lifestyle
- Environment: Quiet, calm, and not the commercial hub of Gombe
- Good for: Focus, rest, and avoiding unnecessary distractions
Nearby Amenities
- 🛍 Supermarkets: Available
- 🍽 Restaurants: Available (mostly outside the hospital)
- 🎬 Cinemas: Not available
- 🌳 Parks: Not available
- 📸 Other hangout spots: A few modest options
Work Environment & Clinical Exposure
- Hospital size: Moderate — easy to navigate and learn departmental locations quickly
Orientation
- Minimal structure. You’ll mostly learn by asking senior colleagues and fellow house officers.
Core Responsibilities
- Ward rounds (scheduled weekly)
- IV access — your responsibility
- Drug administration, including:
- Chemotherapy
- Labetalol
- Calcium gluconate
- Magnesium sulphate
- Blood transfusion in pediatrics
- Post-round mop-ups — often done alone
Staff & Work Culture
- Doctors: Generally friendly and supportive
- Administrative staff: Relaxed and approachable
- Nurses: Mixed experience — professionalism varies
Golden Rule:
Be available, but not too available.
Overextending yourself leads to burnout. As long as you do your duties properly, you won’t get into trouble.
Food Options
Within the hospital
- Administrative kitchen
- Staff kitchen
- Canteen
- Roadside food vendors
Outside the hospital
- Restaurants and fast food joints
- Delivery services
- Snack kiosks
Food availability is not a major challenge.