The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has requested that the federal government immediately proclaim a state of emergency over the country’s medical brain drain in order to address the issues that are driving away medical professionals from Nigeria.
The medical association made this request in response to the kidnap of their colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, of the National Eye Centre in Kaduna, more than seven months ago, and a demand for her quick rescue.
Speaking at a press conference prior to the organization’s Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference on August 10th, Dr. Madaki David Sheyin, the chairman of the NMA Kaduna state branch, stated that data indicates more than 15,000 medical professionals with training from Nigeria have left the country in search of better opportunities.
He named inadequate pay, subpar facilities, security issues, and overstretched labour as contributing factors to the medical brain drain and urged all tiers of government to declare a state of emergency in order to solve the issues.
According to Sheyin, “We as an Association have continually advocated for better funding for the health sector over the years, we have had to grapple with dilapidated infrastructures, poor working environment, poor remuneration that has worsened the brain drain in the State and by extension the persistent shortage in manpower and inability to attract the required number of human resource for health in the right skill mix.
“Security and safety of the healthcare workers has been a challenge as well, as hospitals and doctors have become soft targets by kidnappers for ransom. All this has put the state of our healthcare at risk, and the crass failure of previous administrations to tackle these challenges head-on has left more questions than answers.
“As the parent body of all doctors in the State, we have led discussions with the current administration of Gov. Uba Sani who has shown empathy for the plight of healthcare workers as regards the challenges being faced, his government is giving us a listening ear which is a departure from our experience with the previous administration, there seems to be a resolve towards addressing the fundamental issues that has given rise to these challenges over the years.
“We are not there yet but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. The initial steps the Kaduna State Government has taken are commendable and give us some glimmer of hope that after all there might just be light at the end of the tunnel. The progress made needs to be improved upon as there is still more work that remains to be done.
“The ongoing renovation, reconstruction and upgrading of some secondary health facilities across the state have been long overdue and we commend His Excellency for this amongst other achievements in the last 13 months, the gradual improvement in the CONMESS salary scale for doctors is ongoing and this should be followed up with the implementation of the new hazard allowance for healthcare workers, accoutrement allowance and a sustained payment of Medical Residency Training Fund for Resident doctors that has been rather epileptic.
“The challenges encountered by doctors in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital need to be addressed squarely and we have previously recommended severally that giving the only State Tertiary Hospital full autonomy will solve over 90% of her lingering problems and eliminate the administrative bottlenecks encountered in funding and close gaps occasioned by acute shortage of manpower.
“The hydra-headed monster of medical quackery has been on the increase and can be tied to the inadequate number of qualified medical practitioners in the right skill mix across the state. The state government agencies charged with the responsibility of checkmating the activities of these quacks must up their game and come up with innovative ideas to stem this practice that has sent many innocent lives to their early graves.
“More collaborative efforts must be employed with health professional groups to assist government identity such quacks so that the full scale of the law is applied to erring persons to serve as deterrents to others engaging in these unwholesome acts.
“The NMA will not condone any form of aiding or abetting of malpractice by any member regardless of their status. We will always be willing to cooperate with law enforcement agencies including the Nigerian Police to ensure sanity and professional ethics are maintained.
“The worrisome spate of kidnappings involving our members and their families have become a cause for worry and concern to us. The government must do all it takes to prevent such disturbing occurrences from happening. We are saddened by the continued captivity of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola a resident doctor kidnapped over 7 months ago from the National Eye Centre Kaduna hospital quarters, this is unacceptable and condemnable.
“Despite assurances of security agencies from both State and Federal levels on efforts to secure her release, Dr. Ganiyat, a breastfeeding mother still remains in captivity, reports of her failing health and harsh conditions she’s being exposed to calls for the need by all the relevant security apparatus in the country to intensify efforts to secure her release.
“We call on the Governor as the Chief Security Officer of the State to immediately intervene and save Dr. Ganiyat and reunite her with her family and colleagues. It is imperative to state that all health facilities (Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary) across the State must be well secured, this will give all healthcare workers a sense of safety seeing that we provide essential humanitarian services 24 hours a day.
“The NMA is in the process of developing a security/kidnap prevention advisory for our members,” he said.
The NMA Chairman spoke about the upcoming Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, which has as its theme “Enhancing Healthcare Delivery amidst challenges: Strategies for a Sustainable Medical Practice in Nigeria.” He added, “We must acknowledge that the challenges in the healthcare system are quite enormous and requires all hands to be on deck to tackle them and put us back on the right track towards a sustainable improved quality healthcare delivery system.”
“The focused investments of the current administration of Sen. Uba Sani need to be encouraged, despite the dwindling finances of the State and mismanagement and or non-appropriation of funds by the previous administration the governor seems resolute to change the narrative in the healthcare sector.
“We trust and believe that the Governor will reposition the health system for greater achievements and better health outcomes. The sub-theme for the scientific conference aims to address safety and legal issues in medical practice to be delivered by a renowned Professor of Medical and Health Law, this will better inform members and the general public about professionalism and ethical issues in medical practice.
“In the face of the nationwide protests, we urge our members to continue to provide medical services especially emergency services across the State. We advise members to be security conscious and watch out to prevent being caught up in any fracas that may arise from the protests,” he appealed.
