The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has called for the establishment of a health sector development bank, to address the migration of medical professionals.
It said the increase in the number of trained young professionals and health workers migrating to other parts of the world in search of greener pastures is threatening the county’s health sector and should be checked urgently.
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Rowland Ojinmah, made this known at the Annual General Meeting, AGM of the Anambra branch in Awka on Friday. The conference had its theme as “Mass Emigration of Doctors and Other Health Workers:The Origin, Challenges, and Solution.”
Dr Ojinmah identified some of the factors influencing the emigration of doctors as poor funding, and stressful medical education, including compulsory internship but non-available space which often results in the exploitation of young graduates.
“So the 2023 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Anambra State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, (NMA) is seeking the expertise of relevant stakeholders to find solutions to this worrisome trend affecting the health sector and ways to advance the system and improve health care delivery,” he said.
Proffering solutions to the issue, Dr. Ojinmah said the government should ensure, “Adequate funding of the health sector using African Union’s Abuja Declaration of 2001 of allocating 15% of annual budget to the sector, eradication of differential cut off marks, subsidizing undergraduates medical education, erecting standard lecture halls and hostels, and instituting scholarships and students education loans.”
He also said the government should endure “properly organized and timed recruitment of resident doctors devoid of underhand practices, return of mandatory one-year overseas clinical attachment as part of the residency training programme.
“Full implementation of National Health Acts and Medical Residency Training Act, and adequate remuneration package which should match the standard of developed nations, there should be tax-free with attached car loan, one paid medical checkup per year (like they do for judges), free children’s education (maximum of 4) and one paid family holiday trip per annum.”
In her address, the Anambra State Chairman of NMA, Dr. Jane Ezeonu, said that the conference offers an opportunity for continuing medical education and professional development.
Dr Nnaedozie Obiegbu, member Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) spoke to the medical practitioners on”Topical, Ethical Issues In Health, Citation from MDCN Experience.
She said, “Carefulness is the key to practice, act always in the best interest of the patient. Don’t cut corners, under no circumstances will you report what you are not absolutely sure of, love yourself and your integrity.”
The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike who spoke on Anambra state health care plan said the mission is “to reduce the morbidity to communicable disease to the barest minimum, reverse the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and significantly increase the life expectancy as well as quality of life of Anambra citizens.”
The Commissioner called on the Nigerian and state governments to ensure good working conditions and welfare packages for medical doctors and health workers, to avoid losing them to other countries.
On her part, the State Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe, said the theme is apt to curb the mass exodus of health workers.
She explained that “the state government has invested in improving healthcare infrastructure, increased remuneration, and improved healthcare initiatives which would help solve the ugly trend.”
Also, Chairman Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Awachie Dubem promised the participants that this year’s programme would bring lots of positive changes and turn around in the medical profession.
The programme which started on
Thursday will end on Sunday, July, 23 with Thanksgiving at church service and elders time out.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
