The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said Nigeria is battling its worst brain drain situation in history as it records 10,296 Nigerian-trained doctors practising in the United Kingdom.
The association’s president, Dr Uche Ojinmah, raised this concern among other issues during the press briefing to mark the 2022 Physicians’ Week in Ibadan.
Ojinmah, who was represented by the NMA Chairman, Oyo State Dr Wale Lasisi, said, “Currently, Nigeria has the third highest number of foreign doctors working in the UK after India and Pakistan.
“Meanwhile, while we are losing our human resources for health in geometric progression, Lassa Viral Hemorrhagic fever, Malaria, COVID, Ebola, Marburg, and so on are still very much available in the face of worsening incidences of Systemic Hypertension with or without complications.
“Diabetes mellitus with or without complications, osteoarthritis, and so on. We call on our governments to quickly declare emergency action in Nigeria’s health sector for the sake of her citizens,” he said.
Ojinmah also expressed dissatisfaction over the welfare of its members amidst a lack of facilities and infrastructure.
“Furthermore, let me inform you all that the Nigerian doctor is poorly paid, overworked, lack necessary work tools and has become a target for kidnap.
“We Nigerian doctors have been taken from the lofty heights of nobility to nothingness by successive governments’ neglect and possible disdain for the health sector.
“The penchant of State governments for seizing or slashing our salaries and paying it piecemeal at their convenience without interest has become # subject of folklore and hence cannot be allowed to continue.
“On the need to review CONMESS, let me inform you that the ball is now in the court of the Government and they are foot-dragging.
“Let no one take our civility for weakness as we shall do all within limits of legality to protect the interest of the Nigerian doctor while the Government continues in their “search” for obvious reasons behind medical brain drain,” he said.
The association, however, sent its condolences to citizens affected by the flooding incidents in Nigeria, adding that it had shelved the national opening ceremony of its physicians’ week slated to hold in Bayelsa due to the incident.
“We pray for a quick resolution and recovery. We call on our Governments at different levels to work together in helping victims recover quickly.
“We call on Federal Government to actively initiate measures to avert another flooding. This is one flood too many in our recent history as a nation; we say no more floods while we watch,” Ojinmah said.
Meanwhile, as the NMA Chairman of Oyo State, Lasisi urged the state government to implement the proposed hazard allowance for doctors working at the state level and those in the private sector.
