Obasanjo Warns Govt Against Japa Syndrome in Health Sector
Ex-Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned that the current brain drain plaguing the health sector in Nigeria needs to be checked.
Obasanjo raised this concern on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 44th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARS) tagged “Evolving Roles of Doctors in Healthcare Management and Nation Building,” which was held at the hospital’s Telemedicine Centre.
The former military man stressed that poor working conditions prevalent in the nation’s health sector is causing a serious outflux of its essential health practitioners to Europe and America.
Obasanjo, who was represented at the event by the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu, pointed out that the government needed to put together better welfare for these Doctors to stem the tide.
“It is therefore essential for governments at all levels to ensure adequate welfare packages for doctors, without whom it would be impossible to provide meaningful medical services.
“Having seen the immense work resident doctors are doing in our hospitals, I appeal that their welfare should be prioritised.
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“The issue of doctors being abducted and kidnapped should not be treated lightly. I hope that, by the end of this conference, the Federal, State, and Local Governments will take steps to improve the welfare of not only doctors but all healthcare workers.
“The rate at which the ‘Japa syndrome’ is affecting our health sector is alarming. Many of our sub-specialties are now inoperative because the specialists have left the country,” Obasanjo held.
The ex-leader adviced that, in line with present economic challenges, Doctors needed to be paid better to keep them happy.
Governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun, also lent weight behind Obasanjo’s counsel, pleading with health workers to not abandon their responsibilities to the public.
In turn, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Dele Abdulahi, stressed that the economy and insecurity are big issues facing health workers in Nigeria and ones the government needs to tackle head-on.
