- Nigerian medical doctors on parade
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The President of the Association of Residents Doctors (ARD) in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr. Rahman Olayinka, has called on federal government to, as a urgency, overhaul Nigeria’s health system to tackle critical issue of brain drain, lamenting massive emigration of 5-10 doctors in search of greener pastures abroad weekly.
Dr. Olayinka expressed deep concern at a press briefing on Monday, December 4, where he advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s health system to tackle the critical issue of brain drain.
Olayinka highlighted the primary reasons for doctors’ massive exodus, heaping on, among other things, government’s lackadaisical approach to addressing their agelong complaints.
“The advocacy is for improved welfare packages. Health workers leave because they get better welfare packages, good working environments, and a proper healthcare system, including robust insurance cover for their families.”
Emphasising the urgency of the matter, he called for a complete restructuring of the healthcare system in the country to stem the tide of healthcare professionals seeking opportunities abroad.
Despite an upward review in salaries and wages by the FCTA, Dr. Olayinka pointed out that the new salary scale is yet to be implemented, underscoring the need for prompt action to address the grievances of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Olayinka highlighted that the upcoming ARD Health Week with the theme, “The State of Nigeria’s Health Care System: An Update,” presents a unique opportunity to engage in discussions that can contribute to enhancing the nation’s health sector.
He stressed the necessity of aligning Nigeria’s healthcare system with World Health Organisation guidelines. He outlined several key topics to be addressed, including the unresolved crisis in the health system, the role of government and society in improving healthcare, and the pertinent issue of medical victimisation and bullying of medical doctors.
Only two days ago, the Medical Guild of Nigeria, a body of medical doctors under the employment of the Lagos State Government, lamented overstretching its members on duty in government facilities…leading to death of 15 of them in six months.
Following this, the Guild had appealed to the Lagos State Government to prioritise the health and lives of healthcare workers in general, saying it’s disheartenening to see that 15 doctors died within six months in the state.
The Chairman of the Guild, Dr. Sa’eid Ahmad, disclosed this during a news conference ahead of the guild’s forthcoming Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, on Sunday, in Lagos.
Ahmad noted that the past year has been particularly challenging for the guild due to ongoing co-morbidities exacerbated by manpower bleed and the attendant severe overwork among members at service points, and several members’ deaths.
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“The intensity of the attendant sense of loss was probably brought to its peak with the tragic event of the collapsed elevator in the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, which claimed the life of our young colleague, the Late Dr. Vwaere Diaso.
“This was to be followed by end-on-end demises of some additional colleagues, sometimes, multiple over a few days,” he said./PLEASE SHARE
- Tags: Dr. Rahman Olayinka, Dr. Sa’eid Ahmad, State of Nigeria’s healthcare system
