JAPA Syndrome: Afolabi Advocates Better Pay, Working Conditions for Doctors
The Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has urged the government to review the salaries of doctors and other health workers in Nigeria. Afolabi made this call during his investiture as the Chancellor of Gerar University of Medical Sciences in Imope-Ijebu, Ogun state.
The mass migration of health professionals, known as "Japa," has significantly impacted the country's healthcare delivery. Afolabi emphasized that the government must prioritize the welfare of health workers, in addition to providing modern equipment and tools at public health facilities.
Afolabi noted that many skilled medical professionals have left Nigeria for developed countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, where they receive better remuneration, modern work tools, and a conducive working environment. This migration has affected various sectors, but the health sector has been the most severely impacted. The remaining doctors, nurses, and health professionals in Nigeria are overworked and underpaid compared to their global counterparts.
Afolabi praised the proprietor and management of Gerar University of Medical Sciences for establishing the institution at a time when Nigeria needs more quality health workers. He believes the university has the potential to become a center of excellence in medical education and research.
The institution's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Niyi Adetoro, emphasized the importance of technology and innovation in driving the university's vision.
He also highlighted the need for support from corporate organizations and public-spirited individuals to achieve the university's ambitious goals, which include an endowment fund of N500 million.
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