Brain drain: Who is to blame for the mortal exodus of Nigerian doctors?

The importance of health undoubtedly can not be over-emphasized. Doctors with different specialties ensure that we stay healthy and when we are knocked down by diseases, no matter how severe, they perform their magic to lift us. According to Mahatma Gandhi “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, this is what doctors across the globe do; service to humanity.

Although we get graduates annually, doctors are still insufficient not only in Nigeria but across the globe. These numbers are supposed to be on the increase with the number of universities that offer medicine and other related courses, colleges of health, and schools of nursing and midwifery, but unfortunately, it is not the case as our health sector is threatened by ‘mortal exoduses of health workers, what in other words is termed brain drain in the health sector. 

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With recent reports from different media outlets, no less than 727 Nigerian-trained medical doctors have relocated to the United Kingdom between December 2021 and May 2022. And between March 2021 and March 2022, at least 7,256 Nigerian nurses have left for the United Kingdom. This statistic is only on the migration to the United Kingdom, what about those who moved to other parts of the world. Most of the doctors were reported to have moved during the period the federal government failed to pay their hazard allowance.

With a winsome smile on my face, I was pleased with the fact that we have home-trained medical personnel that is fit to work abroad especially in places as advanced as the United Kingdom. But on the flip side, my winsome face turns gloomy because our beloved nation is losing the scarce service of the medical personnel to nations that are supposedly ahead of us. Who should we hold responsible for the incessant migration, the leaders or doctors? 

If things are not put in place and the trend continues, those minted will continue to relish in the comfort of seeking medical attention abroad while the destitute or less privileged lives in despair.

Dahiru Mamman, a corps member writes from Abuja