- Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, ENL Consortium and Chairperson, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, Princess Vicky Haastrup (left), Chancellor of Gerar University of Medical Sciences and Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, and a guest during Afolabi’s investiture as chancellor of the institution in Ogun State… recently
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Nigerian government needs to improve the remuneration of doctors, nurses and other health professionals to stem the widespread migration of health workers and its dire consequences on the wellbeing of residents, the Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has said.
Afolabi, who spoke at his investiture as the Chancellor of Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Imope-Ijebu, Ogun State, noted that mass migration of health professionals, especially doctors and nurses from Nigeria, now popular as japa, has negatively affected the country’s healthcare delivery.
Calling on the government to frontally tackle the ugly trend, he noted that aside providing modern equipment and tools at public health facilities across the country to improve services, priority must also be given the welfare of the dispirited health professionals still remaining in the country.
“Many of our competent medical hands have been lost to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, among other developed economies where sufficient encouragement in terms of remuneration, modern work tools and a conducive working environment have been provided to attract talents from all over the world,” Afolabi observed.
“This migration by young Nigerians has negatively affected almost every sector of the country, but it is safe to conclude that the health sector has been the biggest victim of this japa syndrome.
“The few doctors, nurses and other health professionals that are left in the country are overworked and grossly underpaid compared to their counterparts globally. This has negatively impacted the quality of services that patients could access in our public health institutions.
“Our government at all levels needs to be strategic and proactive in tackling this menace. Pay for health workers must be improved while a conducive environment that will make them thrive and be fulfilled professionally must be provided.”
Meanwhile, Afolabi commended the proprietor of the specialised institution for establishing it at a time the country needed to produce more quality health workers, stating that Gerar University of Medical Sciences has the capacity to become a reference point and centre of excellence in medical education and research in the country.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Niyi Adetoro, said the new university will leverage technology and innovation to drive its vision, adding that the support of corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals would be required to support the university’s ambitious vision, which has necessitated an endowment fund of N500 million.
