The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said poor welfare and remuneration of its members are responsible for the increasing human capital flight of doctors from Nigeria.
The National Publicity Secretary of NMA, Dr Aniekeme Uwah, stated this Monday during the 2021 Correspondents’ Chapel Week in Uyo with the theme: ‘’Post-COVID-19 Economy and the Challenges to Ethical Journalism Ahead of 2023 Elections”.
Dr Uwah, therefore, called on government at all levels to address the problem.
He said, “So many of our colleagues in Nigeria have moved for greener pasture abroad, and if this is not tackled, the health sector will be highly affected. The only solution is for government to make adequate budgetary provisions so that doctors and other health workers will be motivated and well remunerated.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Health has appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to call off its strike and resume duty in the interest of the masses.
The committee’s Chairman, Pascal Obi, made the call Monday during a tour of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to inspect capital projects.
“As we appeal to the executives to do the needful, we also appeal to medical practitioners to show understanding when it becomes necessary to do so. It is only when you have good health that you can carry out any responsibility.”
In a related development, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti in Ekiti State, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, appealed to the federal government to reconcile current differences with the striking doctors.
Speaking in his palace during a stakeholders meeting to mobilise his community for COVID-19 vaccination, Oba Alabi said there was the urgent need for the doctors to resume work due to the rising cholera outbreak across the country, COVID-19 and other viral diseases.
From Iniabasi Umo (Uyo), Risikat Ramoni (Lagos) & Raphael Ogbonnaiye, Ado-Ekiti
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