C M Y K 4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022
C M Y K BRAIN DRAIN: We now have one doctor to 6,400 patients — Medical experts By Dayo Johnson & Joseph Erunke MEDICAL experts have raised the alarm that the ratio of doctors available in the country was now one to 6,400 patients as a result of brain-drain. The experts, including the Chief Medical Director, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo State, Dr. Oluwole Ige, and an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ilelfe, Osun state, Dr. Teslim Onigbinde, spoke in Ondo at the 2nd induction of physiotherapists, who recently graduated from the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo. The figure is 5,900 patients higher than the United Nations recommended ratio of one doctor to 500 patients. It is also 1,400 patients higher than one doctor to 5,000 patients, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, declared, late last month, at its Anambra Chapter’s Physicians’ Week and Scientific Conference in Nnewi. 38.7% of Nigerians suffer healthcare depreciation Apart from poor access to doctors, access to health facilities is also a challenge, as the recently released multidimensional poverty by the National Bureau of Statistics survey showed • Say Nigeria in emergency situation• 38.7% of Nigerians suffer healthcare depreciation – NBS report•As NMA asks FG to act fast that more than one out of every three Nigerian suffers deprivation in terms of time to healthcare. According to the report, titled: “The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index,” a household is deprived if it takes them 30 minutes or more to reach the nearest functional health facility or primary healthcare centre on foot. The survey revealed that 38.7 per cent of Nigerians spend more than 30 minutes to reach the nearest functional health facility. NMA Secretary General, Dr. Jide Onyekwelu, who spoke at the Nnewi event, had said the rate at which doctors were migrating for greener pastures posed serious manpower crisis in the health sector, noting that while the UN standard recommended an average of one doctor to 500 patients, the ratio had dropped to about 1:5000 in Nigeria due to the declining number of doctors in the country. Current statistics, according to the medical experts at the induction ceremony in Ondo, the number has dropped further to 6,400 patients to one doctor. Dr. lge expressed worries over the rate at which medical professionals were leaving Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad. He called for urgent measure to salvage the trend, saying: "the country is in dire emergency situation within the medical sector.” Ige, who spoke through, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, Dr. Michael Gbala, expressed mixed feelings that half of the 34 inductees were already nursing the ambition to board the next flight to developed countries and appealed to medical personnel in Nigeria to always give a second thought before leaving the country. His words: "You (inductees) are coming at a time there is mass exodus of medical personnel. The university has taken about five years to train you, so Nigerians will be happy to have you around. "If your lecturers had left, they will not be around to train you. We are in a very serious situation. Except something is done, we might be heading From left: President Muhammadu Buhari with the President of Niger Republic, Mohammed Bazoum; President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo and President of the Chadian Transition Government and Head of State, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in Niamey, Niger Republic yesterday. Vanguard, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022 — 5 POCKET CARTOON towards major crisis. I salute those who are still around, despite the challenging situation. "Wherever you may be, ensure you continue to retrain yourselves and be good ambassadors of the institution." On his part, Dr. Onigbinde described the ratio of doctors available to patients in the country as worrisome and stressed the urgent need to halt the brain drain in the health sector. ‘Work in Nigeria first’ The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olusegun Fatusi, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and Clinicals, Prof. Adolphus Loto, said the inductees could seek employment in any country they desire, but advised that they must ensure they worked in Nigeria first before travelling out of the country. "It is your right to seek employment anywhere in the world because it is part of the international labour mobility. But my advice is that before you leave, you must get a job here. "Many people cannot come back because there By Matthew Johnson & Prudence George On 133m Nigerians living in poverty and way forward is nothing to fall back on. You have two goals in your career; to solve societal problems and to solve personal problems. "We are proud of you and your achievement so far. The induction programme, as you have been well-tutored, is not a mere ceremony. It is a critical rite of passage into a new life – the life of professional health workers, and specifically your entry into the distinguished and rewarding profession of physiotherapy." Also, the Dean, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation, Prof. Matthew Olaogun, advised the inductees to remain focused on their chosen career, and pursue what they had learned in the university with the spirit of godliness and excellence. He also expressed concern over the rate doctors were relocating abroad, leaving the health sector in dire straits. The Registrar, Medical Rehabilitation Body of Nigeria, Olufunke Akanni, represented by the Deputy Registrar, Mr Akinyele Adeniran, admonished them to be watchful of hospitals Continues on Page 35 THE rates at which company and other investors are running away from Nigeria is contributing to rate of poverty. As a nation, we depend mostly on imported item and our exportation of goods to other country is very low. In order to drag the statistics down we need to be a productive country. —Oyindamola Owolabi, Brand Ambassador THE NBS statistic is a clarion call that something should be done urgently to prevent Nigeria from descending into anarchy. 133 million people are a threat to the peace of any nation. The federal government should act fast to bring down the numbers. —Ado Fatima, Student WHEN a country’s investment policies are not favorable for local and foreign investors, that is what you get; a mob of hungry people. If nothing is done urgently, the numbers will continue to rise and only God knows what will become of the rich people. —Yamano Isaac, Student ITS true that inflation rate is over 20% which is directly proportional to an increase in the cost of living while earning capacity remain the same, thus shoving people below the poverty index. Something needs to be done very fast to remedy the situation. —Daniel Ololo, Pharmacologist IT all boils down to the economy and cost of living which is relatively very high. Unfortunately we no longer have middle class citizens in Nigeria. You are either poor or rich. When the number of poor people is more that rich people in any nation, there is serious danger. — Lori Anthony, Industrialist THE NBS figures are scary should be taken seriously by the federal government. The solution is to intensify the fight against corruption with a more robust anti-corruption policy. We also need a strong fiscal policy to drive the economy. —Nwankwo Chibuzor, Businessman
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