By Ayodele Abere
The Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Professor Kayode Olabanji, has said that there’s need to encourage younger colleagues across the health professionals to stay back in Nigeria to build the health system.
The medical expert stated this while speaking with journalists at the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), held at the Main Auditorium of College of Nursing Sciences of the Institution in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Reacting to the theme of the conference, EXODUS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS, ITS IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA AND EKITI STATE IN PERSPECTIVE with the sub theme, DOCTOR’S WELFARE IN THE FACE OF ECONOMIC DOWNTOWN, Professor Olabanji said since the whole Nigerians cannot move to America or UK, some have to stay back.
Similarly, in his own admonition, the Professor of Community Medicine, based in Ekiti State University and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Professor Olusola Olugbenga Odu, advised the younger Doctors to keep their heads up irrespective of the economic and social challenges in the country saying they can succeed in Nigeria both professionally and economically without traveling abroad.
President of the Resident Doctors of the Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adeyemi Famous, while speaking on the importance of the AGM said the day is considered very significant in the calendar of the Resident Doctors and members of the Association which they usually use to mark the important activities that happened during the year.
Dr. Adeyemi, who described EKSUTH as the best Teaching Hospital in Ekiti stated that they offer care to 80 per cent of the population in the State due to the fact that the location of the hospital is very accessible to the patients.
“We are resolved to offer maximum care to all our patients in Ekiti State and its environ.
While appreciating the Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for his general support for the Teaching Hospital, the Doctors and Health Workers in the State as a whole, he noted that as at this time last year, they had a major challenge in the hospital as Doctors and Health Workers were leaving the State in droves.
“In a month, we could have about 30 people leaving. Then we went to the Governor because of the disparity in pay between the State and Federal Health Institutions, we asked him to pay the new hazard allowance and also the medical residency in training fund which he did.
“Since then, there has been drastic reduction in the rate at which Doctors and other Health Workers were leaving the Institution and the State.
Having done so much at improving the facilities of the Teaching Hospital to better the care of the patients, there are still much to be done according the President, he therefore called on the Governor to look into implementation of their minimum wage which was approved three years ago and further improvement of the facilities in the hospital among others.
Charging the younger Doctors, the second guest lecturer at the occasion, an Associate Professor, Dr. Olofinbiyi Babatunde Ajayi, encouraged them to calve a niche for themselves in medical profession, adding that what they need to become somebody and better their Welfare is in their hands
In his word, “generally, people emigrate for financial, job, social and medical issues. There are people in abroad that are not doing better. No matter what the situation is saying in Nigeria, you can still do much for yourself”, Olofinbiyi emphasized.
The Medical Consultant, however identified personal roles, mentorship roles, institutional roles and leadership roles as solution to the japa syndrome that really affected the health system in Nigeria.
On her own part, the Senior Registrar in infectious diseases, Department of Internal Medicine and also Local Organising Committee Chairman of this year Annual General Meeting of the Association, Dr. Ayorinde Damilola Feyiseke, corroborating the stands of the earlier speakers said, “when we are aware of the challenge and the aftermath of it, it will help us to brace up”.
She lamented that shortage of Doctors and Healthcare Workers has a greater impact on the health of the community and also on the available healthcare workers because they are overworked. Said Dr. Ayorinde.
Highlight of the occasion was Award presentation to some deserving individuals among whom was the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaja Dr. Habibat Adubiaro, who was awarded friend of the Association following her immense contribution to the development of the Teaching Hospital, the Resident Doctors and most importantly, her roles in the payment of new hazard allowance which the health workers are currently enjoying in the State as attested to by the President of the Resident Doctors, Adeyemi.
Others include, the consultants/teachers in EKSUTH based on their support for the Resident Doctors at all times, and the HoD of salaries and wages in accounting section of the hospital, Mr. Ojo, for his unwavering support for the Resident Doctors in terms of renumeration.
The event which had dignitaries from far and near in attendance equally featured Hon. Dr. Abimbola Sholanke as a Guest Speaker.
