Three out of every five new graduates of Nigerian medical schools ‘eye jobs in telecoms companies and banks’, according to Nigerian Tribune.
Those that do not go for jobs in telecoms companies and banks ‘now prefer to set up health-related non-governmental Organizations through which they could earn hard currencies from foreign bodies.’
In 2007, some 37,000 doctors left Nigeria to seek better jobs abroad, according to Nigerian Medical Association/Guardian.
Of its 50,000 members, the association could only register about 13,000 in 2007 renewal of practicing licences.
The 13,000 registered are unevenly distributed in urban areas; about 6,000 doctors are in Lagos, some states have fewer than 300 doctors.
International aid to Africa should be used to boost doctors’ salaries and strengthen the recruitment and training of medical staff, according to WHO experts. The agency predicts that by 2015, countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Nigeria will still be short of doctors to meet their needs.
Nigeria doesn’t have to wait till 2015; there is crisis in the hospitals already. Is there going to be an emergency declaration as the Prez did on power sector?
What is the national health strategy? Is there any other mission aside from the UN’s cookie-cutter Millennium Development Goals?
It has been many months since the Health Minister got sacked on graft charges; a replacement is long over-due.
This is ugly and disappointing. And the trend is likely to go south since the govt appears indifferent. Thanks.
July 15, 2008 at 9:51 am