The Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness over the brain drain phenomenon that has hit the Health sector.

Gbajabiamila said a situation whereby over 2,000 Resident Doctors had left the shores of the country, with about 800 leaving in the last eight months, bringing the average to about 100 medical doctors leaving the country monthly in search of better working conditions, was unacceptable.

He, however, said the time had come for the government to holistically address the issues responsible for the negative trend.

He stated this in Abuja on Thursday, when the Executives of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, led by its President, Dr Emeka Orji, paid him a course visit.

Gbajabiamila, however, cautioned that the issue of funding must be properly situated within the context of the prevailing global economic situation since Nigeria is not an island.

Responding to the figures of the Resident doctors that had left Nigeria due to poor remuneration, Gbajabiamila said, “That is a very scary figure and that is not very encouraging for a country of over 200 million people to have the core of your medical team, your young ones, resident doctors, leaving in droves like that, definitely something must be wrong.

“You have identified that to be the issue of emoluments, that’s always a very important issue. If you work, you must get paid and you must get paid a good salary.

While commending those who decided to stay behind despite the situation, Gbajabiamila said, “ I would like to encourage you to do is to tarry a while, be patient, and stay.

“As long as you have our ears here as your legislature, we will always, as best as possible, come to your aid.”

“So, let’s put a stop to this brain drain as best as we can whilst we, on this side, try to make the environment a lot easier for you.”

The Speaker also assured the Association that the clamour for an increase in the budgetary allocation for the Health sector to meet the 2001 Abuja Declaration of 15% of the annual budget allocation to health would be looked into, being a critical sector of the economy.

Cautioning stakeholders against the tradition of equating the Ministry’s budgetary allocation to the entire budget of the sector, Gbajabiamila nevertheless promised that the House would ensure that the sector was not shortchanged in the allocation of resources to it.

The Speaker also promised to look into the other demands of the group on adequate funding of residency training, restoration of the Overseas Exchange Programme, the need to amend the Medical Registration Act, and an upward review of the salary structure for Resident doctors, all within available resources.

He urged the Association to furnish his office with detailed information on some of the issues, saying, “I’d like to have some information on that in writing so that when we are making a case to the government, we will be able to furnish them with even more details, to know exactly what case we are trying to make.”

The President of the Association, Dr Emeka Orji appreciated the Speaker and the House for their successful interventions in NARD issues with the government in the past.

Dr Orji urged the Speaker to intervene in the brain drain syndrome that had hit the medical practice in the country due to poor working conditions.

He also presented to the Speaker other demands of the Association on adequate funding of residency training, restoration of the Overseas Exchange Programme, the need to amend the Medical Registration Act and upward review of the salary structure for resident doctors, among others.

It was all smiles at the Unity Hall, Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area in Anambra State, when Nonye Soludo, wife of the state Governor, recently visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp.

As part of her support to reach out to all the persons in various IDP camps in the state, the pregnant women, elderly and children got different gifts from the governor’s wife during her visit to the Umueri IDP camp. She gifted the expectant mothers with medical packs. The flood victims were supplied with edibles and other items that would ease their pains in the camp.

Addressing residents of the centre, Nonye Soludo explained that she understood their present hardships, but urged them to hold on to God and hope as the storm will be over soon. While reassuring them of every support that they need while still at the centre, she added that the government is doing everything to priorities their welfare, also laid emphasis on special care for pregnant and nursing women, children and the elderly and told them to always sleep under mosquito nets which were given to them.

Mrs Soludo appreciated the efforts of the World Health Organization Officials, health Personnel and camp attendants. She encouraged them to continue rendering their selfless services to the flood victims and to inform the state ministry of health once they run out of any drug. She also lauded health workers in various IDP camps nationwide for their humanitarian services to flood victims in Nigeria.

Dr. Afam Obidike, the state commissioner for health who was also present in the camp, said that the Governor’s wife’s visit has rekindled hope for the people in the centre, providing them with both material and emotional support to overcome their difficult time. He also stated that the doctors, nurses and pharmacists in the IDP camps in the state, will never relent in their health support to the victims. He explained that the state government has been doing a lot to ensure that those in the camp are well taken care of, with adequate food and medical provisions.

Mrs Soludo appealed to the health workers to always monitor the health conditions of people in the camp, to avoid any health emergency. She also called on Nigerians to visit and support flood victims in various IDP camps in the country to help alleviate their sufferings.

The Anambra State Government has announced plans to embark on unified vaccination of citizens to prevent possible outbreaks of cholera and other infectious diseases in the state as an attendant effect of the devastating flood disaster.

The Executive Secretary of Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, made this known in Awka at a one-day media engagement ahead of the state Measles Campaign which will begin Tuesday, October 25.

Ezenyimulu who was represented at the event by the State Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Placid Uliagbapusi, said though the state has scheduled to hold the measles vaccination campaign, the flood disaster being felt in seven out of the 21 Local Government Areas, had increased worries of a likely outbreak of cholera and other diseases.

“We are worried that with the devastating flood disaster, the state might witness cholera and other communicable diseases if care is not taken,” she said.

Uliagbapusi called on the public for enhanced hygiene and sanitation in their environment as that was critical to check the outbreak of communicable diseases.

Mr Christian Maluchukwu, an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) in a goodwill message, noted that there was the need for the media and the public to support the campaign.

Representatives of the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), delivered messages at the event with over 50 Media personnel and participants.