Vanguard
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu, NNEWI
LABOUR Party Presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi, yesterday decried the level of brain drain in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, describing it as unacceptable.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Anambra Chapter’s Physicians’ Week and Scientific Conference held in Nnewi, described continued migration of Nigerian-trained medical doctors to other countries as a trend that is impacting negatively proper health care delivery and therefore unacceptable.
Mr Obi who was represented at the occasion by Prof. Chinyere Okunna, the Commissioner in charge of Economic Planning/Budget, Office of MDGs and Development Partners, during his administration as governor of Anambra.
The Physicians’ Week and Scientific Conference, with the theme “Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery System And the 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time to Change the Narrative” regretted that young doctor in the country are leaving the country in their numbers.
The LP standard bearer noted that “Any doctor who is still Nigeria is working, is displaying great patriotism. It takes a high sense of patriotism for any doctor to practice in Nigeria due to the unfriendly environment they are operating in. The working environment is unfriendly, equipment is not there, payment is not attractive and there is insecurity for doctors.”
Sadly, doctors, especially young ones, are leaving the country in their numbers. During my administration in Anambra State, there were challenges in the health sector including a period of industrial action by doctors, the problems were amicably resolved and the sector was in its optimal functional state at the time I left office.
“Industrial action is a legitimate instrument of bargaining but what matters is how the parties settle the differences and how the system comes out of it.
“My government collaborated effectively with the mission to build a virile health sector including building the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka from scratch.
“I am happy with the theme you have chosen for this year’s “Physicians’ Week and Scientific Conference” because the time to act is now, if you have good governance here, the health sector won’t be as poor as it is now, so it is good that we have resolved to enthrone good leadership come 2023…
