From Gyang Bere, Jos
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Monday called on the Federal Government to declare an emergency action on the health sector with a view to address the myriads of challenges including brain drain confronting the sector.
National President, Dr . Uche Roland Ojinmah made the call on Monday in Jos during a press conference to mark the 2022 Physicians week in Jos .
“Statistics has shown that between January 1, 2022 and September 30, 2022 ,about 1,307 doctors trained in Nigeria were licenced in the United Kingdom as the country continues to battle one of the worst situations of brain drain in its history .”
“Over all 10, 296 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria currently practice in the UK, dispersion of the emigration data for Nigeria trained doctors to UK was 233 in 2015; 279 in 2016 ; 475 in 2017; 852 in 2018 ; 1347 in 2019 inspite of the COVID 19 pandemic ,and 932 in 2021 during recovery from COVID.”
He explained further, “Currently, Nigeria has the third highest number of foreign doctors working in the UK after India and Pakistan. Meanwhile we are losing our human resources from health in geometric progression, Lassa viral hemorrhagic fever, Malaria, COVID, Ebola, Marburg etc are still very much available in the face of worsening incidences of systemic hypertension with or without complications, diabetes mellitus with or without complications, osteoarthritis. We call on government to quickly declare emergency action in Nigeria’s health care sector for the sake of her citizens.” He stated.
The association noted that Nigerian Doctors are poorly paid, over worked, lack necessary working tools and has become a target for kidnap and other form of insecurity.
The President, who was represented by the Chairman of Plateau Statet chapter, Dr. Bapigaan William Audu said the Nigerian Doctors have been taken from the lofty heights of nobility to nothingness by the neglect and possible disdain for the health sector by successive governments.
He decried the underfunding of the health facilities by the Nigerian government, saying “The Penchant of state governments for seizing or slashing our salaries and paying it peace meal at their convenience without interest has become a subject of folklore and hence cannot be allowed to continue.”
He explained that the NMA shelved this year’s Physician’s week National opening ceremony and razzmatazz as a result of the massive flooding affecting Bayelsa and some other states of Nigeria with attendant loss of human lives and properties thereby dampening the mood of the nation.
“We call on the government at all levels to actively initiate measures to avert another flooding, we as a body from our merger resources sent some relief materials to Bayelsa state which was worst hit ,we also encouraged our branches in affected states to roll out medical outreach programs and sent solidarity messages to the state governors and some dignitaries in the affected states .
“All citizens must respond to the call of Nigeria ,we must never allow let the labours of our heroes past be in vain ,all citizens must must respond to the call of Nigeria for good leadership and should never for pecuniary benefits sell or support candidates that cannot move our nation forward.”
He said the theme of this year’s Physician’s week “Nigeria’s Health care delivery system and the 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time to Change the Narrative” is in tandem with the most important event in Nigeria.
The President added that the era of blind loyalty is over, and urged the people to patiently wait to hear the plans of the Presidential Candidates for Nigeria especially in the health sector before pitching their political support tent.
Sun News Online Team
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From Gyang Bere, Jos The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Monday called on the Federal Government to…
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© 2019 The Sun Nigeria – Managed by Netsera.