Medical exodus: Safeguarding skilled doctors for Nigeria’s future

A fervent plea echoes through the corridors of power as Prof. Akinsanya Osibogun, the President of the Postgraduate Medical College Fellows’ Association, rallies the Federal Government to stand guard over the nation’s medical warriors.

A crisis looms, a tempest of “Japa syndrome,” as Osibogun labels it, threatens to steal away Nigeria’s finest medical talents.

In a gripping address to the press, Osibogun lays bare a global tug-of-war for the skilled healers of the world. The UK, U.S., Canada—they beckon with promises of greener pastures. But the battle isn’t lost yet. The battlefields are the hospitals, clinics, and operating rooms of Nigeria. The theme is simple: “Improving Health Care Financing In Nigeria.” The subtitle reverberates: “Technology in Medicine and Public Private Partnership.”

With fervor in his eyes, Osibogun raises the clarion call for retention. The government must wield the tools of incentives, both financial and intangible, to quell the exodus. “To retain your skilled professionals, you must give enough incentives to keep them here,” he declares with unwavering conviction.

Yet, the enemy is not just external; it lurks within the nation’s borders. Osibogun unsheathes the sword of reality—poor remuneration and lacking infrastructure. These are the mighty foes that medical practitioners grapple with daily.

“Their tools are their armor,” Osibogun roars. The arsenal of medical instruments must be at their fingertips. The battlegrounds must be transformed into sanctuaries of healing, with well-remunerated soldiers safeguarding the nation’s health.

But the battle is far from over. The younger generation, the future, is at risk of being stolen away. Nigeria’s future healers, the specialists in the making, are walking towards foreign shores. Osibogun implores the nation to act swiftly and decisively—to stem the tide before it’s too late.

And the weapon to victory? Infrastructure. From the geopolitical to the ward level, the landscape must be fortified. The clarion call rings out, a plea for all tiers of government to unite in this battle for survival.

Dr. Foluwasayo Ologe, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, adds his voice. He calls for a partnership that resonates with the pulse of Nigeria’s heartbeat—a public-private partnership to fortify the healthcare system. It’s a call for unity in the face of crisis.

Prof. Adekunle Okesina, a Consultant Chemical Pathologist, speaks to the power of transformation. He heralds the era of technology, where medicine and machines intertwine. Robotic surgery takes center stage, a symbol of how far healthcare has come.

As the symposium concludes, the battle lines are drawn. Nigeria’s medical future hangs in the balance, poised between exodus and revival. The clarion call resounds, a plea that urges the government, the healers, and the nation to unite. Will Nigeria rise above the storm, nurturing its medical champions and securing a healthier future? The stage is set, and the world watches in anticipation.