NMA Calls On Govt To Prioritise Doctors’ Welfare To Curb Japa Syndrome

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on all employers of medical professionals, including the government, to prioritize the welfare of doctors as a key step in addressing the ongoing issue of japa syndrome—the mass migration of medical personnel abroad.

The president of the NMA, Professor Bala Audu, made this appeal in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a media chat held at a grand reception organized by the state chapter of the association. The event honoured newly appointed commissioners, the Senior Special Assistant (Medical), and the Senior Special Assistant (Insurance) and took place at the Doctors’ Mess on Monday.

Audu noted that the shortage of medical personnel is not unique to Nigeria but a global challenge. However, he stressed that governments at all levels must take responsibility for improving doctors’ working conditions to retain them within the country.

He stated, “Shortage of medical doctors is not peculiar to Akwa Ibom State alone or Nigeria; in fact, the entire world is experiencing a shortage of medical workers. What I will advise is that employers of medical personnel, including governments at all levels, should prioritize the welfare of doctors in order to retain them.”

Commending Governor Umo Eno’s health workforce retention policy, Audu acknowledged the state’s effort to improve the welfare of its medical personnel. He urged the governor to go further by ensuring uniform standards in healthcare delivery across all health facilities in the state.

“The health sector is part of the governor, Umo Eno’s ARISE agenda. I have seen what he has done in the health care sector. I have seen the health workforce retention policy. In the healthcare sector, no matter what you do in terms of health infrastructures, in terms of equipping health facilities, you must make sure there is unity in the health workforce, particularly the associations.”

“What I want the governor to do particularly is to ensure universal applicability of standards of health care across all the facilities of health systems in the state; that means that all teaching hospitals owned by the state government must have standard health care that is befitting of a tertiary hospital.”

“The personnel must be appropriate, the building must be adequate, and the equipment must be correct and functional so that personnel working there will have what it takes to work and serve the people of the state,” he added.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the NMA in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Aniekan Peter, applauded Governor Umo Eno for appointing three commissioners with medical backgrounds to the state executive council.

He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting the commissioners and the governor in delivering quality healthcare to the people.

“We will stand with you and stand with your principal, Umo Eno, to ensure that the welfare of medical personnel is taken to its zenith and the health of our people is guaranteed,” he said.

Peter described the commissioners as ambassadors of the medical profession in the state and highlighted the association’s health center initiative launched in March, which he said has positively impacted many lives. He also mentioned the association’s collaboration with the ECWS and teaching hospitals, which he believes will continue to benefit rural communities across the state.