Daud Olatunji
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over the alarming migration of Nigerian doctors, popularly known as the “Japa” syndrome, warning that the trend is severely crippling the country’s health sector.
Speaking at the 44th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), held at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta, Obasanjo urged government authorities at all levels to prioritize the welfare of medical professionals to curb the ongoing brain drain and enhance healthcare delivery.
Obasanjo, represented by the Medical Director of FMC, Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, lamented that the current economic crisis has exacerbated the exodus of healthcare practitioners seeking better opportunities abroad.
He said, “Resident doctors constitute the bedrock of any country’s healthcare system, and Nigeria is no exception.
“ It is imperative for the government to ensure that doctors receive adequate welfare packages, as without them, providing quality healthcare services will be impossible.”
The former president stressed the critical need to address the welfare of resident doctors, whom he described as the backbone of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He noted that many subspecialties within the health sector are “under lock and key” due to the mass departure of specialists.
“The rate at which the Japa syndrome is affecting our health sector is alarming.
“A lot of our sub-specialties are now under lock and key. We can’t operate in these offices again because the specialists have left the country,” Obasanjo added.
Also speaking at the event, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, commended the doctors for their invaluable contributions to society despite the harsh working conditions they face.
Abiodun, however, called on medical professionals to also focus on the environmental impact of healthcare, revealing that medical waste contributes significantly to global environmental issues.
“Healthcare waste and activities contribute to 30% of environmental challenges across the globe. We doctors need to start paying attention to how we manage waste and think about innovative ways to recycle,” the governor said.
In his address, NARD President Dele Olaitan reiterated the critical role doctors play in the healthcare system. He urged his colleagues to continue delivering the highest standard of medical care despite the challenges in the sector.
“Doctors are the backbone of the healthcare system, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we offer the highest standards of medical services to our patients,” Olaitan said.
The conference highlighted the urgent need for the Nigerian government to take decisive action in addressing the challenges facing the health sector, particularly the mass migration of doctors, which threatens the future of healthcare delivery in the country
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