Two thousand Nigeria trained medical doctors leave Nigeria annually to seek employment abroad.
The number is said to be more than triple for nurses, especially the specialist nurses such as critical care nurses, nephrology nurses, oncology nurses, etc.
A report by doctor Otabor Christopher curled from Sahara reporters says that other medical professionals such as radiographers, medical laboratory scientists and physiotherapist are not left out.
The trend of migration of our medical experts in the past few years is alarming and we are fast approaching the precipice as a country, though our leaders are oblivious of this pending crisis.
The recent appeal by the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama shows that Government has realized the import of what is going on in Nigeria’s health sector.
The Minister reassured that measures are being deployed to address the brain drain in Nigeria.
Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama spoke with reporters recently at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, Lagos.
He inaugurated the Orthopedic and Trauma Centre, Molecular Building Complex, Oxygen gas plant, Clinical Training Centre, and Ultra-Modern Theatre.Ekumankama admitted that the mass relocation of health personnel was a problem and was worrisome.
“The greatest challenge facing the sector presently is the doctors and nurses leaving the country.”
The minister appealed to them to remain in Nigeria to see the efforts of the government.
“As a sacrifice, I encourage them to stay back and help us revitalize the health sector. We have witnessed that today with what is on ground in this hospital,” he said.
Ekumankama added that the government, in the last three years, released 100 percent of health budget.
But Dr. Donald Okro is not convinced that the government is serious expressing fears that the exodus would continue until Government works-the-talk.
“What do you expect? There are no incentives, the pay is not enough based on dwindling economy, work environment, it’s endless.
“There are little or no functional and well equipped medical facilities apart from few individual efforts, and all of the Government officials go abroad for treatment, so who is fooling who. The exodus, surely is continuing.”
