Health

NMA Says 1,800 Doctors, Healthcare Workers Emigrated in December 2022

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The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has warned that the country stands to witness the flight of more health workers abroad if the government does not address factors fueling the brain drain.

The Chairman, NMA Lagos Branch, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu gave the warning at a stakeholders engagement with political party leadership and gubernatorial candidate in Lagos organized by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator in partnership with Legislative Initiative For Sustainable Development.

 Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu explained that brain drain syndrome continues to deplete the health workforce, revealing that in December of 2022, more than 1,800 healthcare workers left the country for greener pastures.

According to Olowojebutu, Medicine as a profession “might go into extinction” in the country if the problem persisted.

“There is a very big challenge about brain drain. I have said several times that we have to be very deliberate about how we tackle this. There is a pull and push syndrome that is affecting doctors leaving Lagos State,” he declared.

“During COVID-19 in 2020, 81 doctors moved from Lagos to the UK. They had a special plane that came to carry them from the UK. Between March 2020 and October 2022, we lost 507 doctors from Lagos state to the UK.

“In December 2022 alone, we lost over 1,800 doctors and other healthcare workers to brain drain. We need to think of how to make healthcare attractive and sustainable.

“Before, we used to have young doctors travelling abroad for greener pastures, but now, even the consultants that are supposed to be training the young doctors are leaving the country.

“There is a dearth of doctors in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State. Some places don’t have specialities anymore because the specialists have left the country at this time”.

Dr Olowojebutu stressed the imperative for government to “critically treat the issue as an emergency” and to solve the problem.

Culled/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Health

Ondo NMA Announces Suspension Of Strike After Stakeholders’ Meeting

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The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Ondo State chapter, has suspended its strike action forthwith for the sake of the people who can’t afford expensive medical care.

The Ondo State NMA Chairman, Dr. Stella Adegbehingbe disclosed during an interactive session with the Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA, Committee on Health and other stakeholders in Akure.

Dr. Adegbehingbe who lamented that the strike has increased mortality rate due patronage of quack doctors, noted that medical practitioners in the Ondo State would return to work as soon as possible for the interest of the people who are seriously in need of medical attention in government hospitals.

She called on the state government to do needful, by giving attention to the welfare of medical personnel and other health workers for effective health delivery.

Dr. Adegbehingbe also appealed to government to address the challenge of inadequate facilities, training, and shortage of manpower among others.

Addressing the session, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr. Adiodun Falaye appreciated the medical practitioners for keeping to the tenets of their profession.

Dr. Falaye gave assurance that the legislative arm will liaise with the executive in finding a lasting solution to the issue.

Other lawmakers also appreciated the health workers for having genuine human feelings.

Correspondent Olumide Abudu reports that Resident Doctors also attended the intervention meeting. Olumide Abudu

Health

Doctors’ Strike: NMA Urges Nigerians To Be Patient

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Nigerians have been advised to seek quality healthcare services at different private and state hospitals pending the time the issue between Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD and federal government would be resolved.

Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State, Dr. Ayotunde Fasunla stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Ibadan.

Dr. Fasunla noted that rather than waiting for federal institutions of health, conditions of patients might worsen.

The medical expert however urged Nigerians to be patient as the issues on ground between federal government and resident doctors would definitely be resolved.

Lilian Ibomor

Education

COVID-19: Reopening Schools Not Safe For Pupils, Citizens — Oyo NMA

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It is not yet safe to reopen schools in Oyo state, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has revealed.

NMA, in a press statement on Thursday, commended the efforts of the Seyi Makinde led COVID-19 taskforce in Oyo State for its efforts to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the state.

However, inthe statement, which was jointly signed by the NMA chairman, Dr. Akin Sodipo and Secretary, Dr. Okuwaseun Adebayo, the association described the announcement by the state government that final year primary and secondary school students should resume on the 29th of June as a surprising one.

According to them, “the NMA, being a critical stakeholder in the war against the pandemic has been following closely the progression of the disease and its attendant morbidities and modalities within the state and the country at large and can conveniently say from statistics at hand that these decisions, although with good intentions, may not be a safe one for the school pupils and indeed the citizens of the state at large at this time that the disease appears to be on the increase.”

They then appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to reconsider his decision to reopened schools and religious centers for the time being.

Adebayo Abdulrahman/Adewumi Faniran