Posted on: Fri 24-06-2022

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 55TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS – NIGERIAN SECTION HELD IN ABUJA FCT FROM JUNE 8TH TO 10TH JUNE, 2022

The Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the International College of Surgeons-Nigeria Section (ICS-NS) held between 8th and 10th June 2022 at the International Conference Centre Abuja in Abuja with the theme "Global COVID:19 Pandemic: Effects on Safe Surgical Services, Training and Research? The Meeting featured a pre-conference surgical outreach during which over 150 Surgical Operations covering various specialties were carried out free of charge. The outreach was facilitated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The conference featured paper presentations and panel discussions that exhaustively discussed the health situation of the country leading to the following observations and recommendations 

BRAIN DRAIN 

The medical brain drain problem of the country has reached alarming proportions. Government should take urgent steps to stem the tide for the benefit of Nigerians. 

SECURITY 

The security situation in the country is alarming and impacting negatively on the health status of Nigerians. g Government should act decisively to bring it under control. The above two issues have impacted grossly and negatively on the health of Nigerians which seem at the moment ( to be catered for, by the private sector and free medical outreaches such as the just concluded one. The ICS-NS therefore, recommends to government as follows 

i. That the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model of growing health services seems to be the best approach and therefore should be encouraged and strengthened. 

ii. Access to capital should be made easy and affordable for investors utilizing that model. We suggest the establishment of a Health Services Development Bank, much like the Agric Development and Industrial Development Banks, with single digit interest rates. 

iii. The Nigerian home environment should be made favourable and conducive for retention of home based Nigerian medical expertise and frequent visits, if not complete return of those in the Diaspora.

iv. Governments in Nigeria are encouraged to establish medical cities for ease of acquisition of land by investors in the medical field. 

v. Government should also be involved in sponsoring, training and development of medical expertise for the nation, which at the money seems to be left in the hands of individuals and the private sector. 

For these to be achieved, budgetary allocation for health, necessarily needs to be significantly improved with a view to ultimately, reaching the WHO recommended percentage of national budget. 

Finally, the ICS-NS appreciates the efforts of various governments in Nigeria towards enhancing the health of Nigerians like the recently gazette National Health Insurance Act 2022. We stand ready to support all policies and measures by government aimed at improving the health of Nigerians. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Signed: 

Gen. (Dr) Maurice C. Ezeoke FICS

President 

Prof. Lucky Onotai FICS

Secretary General 

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