The recent rate at which medical doctors are leaving their jobs in Ekiti State for greener pastures has alarmed stakeholders, particularly the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA.
According to NMA Chairman, Dr. Babatunde Rosiji, the situation has severely impacted the health system, necessitating immediate action to halt it.
Rosiji stated this during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists at the Old Gov’s Office, NUJ Ekiti State Council, noting that most hospitals in Ekiti now lack enough hands to attend to patients.
In his words: “Doctors in Ekiti state are leaving Nigeria.” We are supposed to have 800 doctors in Ekiti State, but as of today, we have just 500 doctors. In some hospitals in Ekiti, we have one medical doctor. In the best case scenario, we have two doctors instead of a minimum of nine doctors.
Things are going wrong in the health sector in Ekiti. I hope we won’t get to the point where we see native doctors in hospitals.
Rosiji also lamented the way doctors in Ekiti State were treated, calling on the government to look into the welfare of health workers in the state to enable them to carry out their essential duty effectively.
“Many of our members came down with COVID-19 despite not receiving any COVID-19 hazard allowance like was done in many other climes.”
“You know, our work is very sensitive. We are overworked, underpaid and understaffed.” The government will deal with us, and our patients will also deal with us at the same time.
He, however, revealed that the union is in a fight against quackery in the medical field in Ekiti State.
The chairman affirms the commitment of NMA to partner with the government and other relevant agencies and organisations in order to deliver optimal health services to the people.