Estimated reading time: 7 minute(s)
Adetutu Sobowale
The Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter, has warned that if necessary actions are not taken, there will be no health workers left in the country.
The Chairman of the association, Dr. Olabisi Dedeke, said this while speaking with PLATFORM TIMES during the Annual General Meeting held at Doctors’ residents in Abeokuta the state capital.
Dedeke, who is also the Chief consultant pediatrician with the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, said the common man will bear the brunt of brain drain if necessary actions to curb the menace are not taken.
She emphasized that the impacts of the brain drain are yet to be felt, saying, “we have not seen the influx of brain drain yet. A time will come when people will get to the hospital and they won’t get any health workers there.
“The impact of brain drain is not for today but for tomorrow, especially for the common people.
“So, the government has to do something about the brain drain. They should look for a way of retaining health workers in the country.”
She lamented that as a result of the brain drain a lot of health workers are burnt out, adding that they bear the brunt of poor health funding, insecurity, and the recent strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ strikes.
“Brain drain may not be the only factor. But a lot of doctors are burnt out. The work meant for 100 people is being done by one person. So, these healthy others do not have time to rest and suicide usually follows a lot of burnout and pressure, especially mental pressures.
“So, if we are not careful, brain drain will contribute to mental pressure for health workers which may lead to suicide.
“The recent ASUU strike has affected the number of doctors that will graduate in the coming months. And if we are not careful, we will also have delays and right now we don’t have enough house officers.
“Poor health funding coupled with insecurity is a contributing factor to brain drain across the country.
“Insecurity is enough reason for people to want to leave the country.
“Government has to tackle poverty, poor electricity supply, poor funding, and many more.”
Speaking, the guest speaker of the day, Dr. Bolanle Adefuye, noted that medical practitioners are prone to mental health issues due to the workload attached to their profession.
Adefuye, who is also a Consultant Pulmonologist at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu advised Female Medical practitioners to ensure they take good care of each facet of their lives.
She also advised that health workers should balance their lives and work to prevent depression.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
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