Posted on: Mon 04-10-2021

Doctors under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian private Medical practitioners, Lagos state chapter have advocated a safe environment to practice.

The doctors, at the annual general meeting and scientific conference of the association in Lagos, also called the federal and state government to solve the security problems in the country, saying doctors were being kidnapped and killed in the country.

The theme of the twoday event which began on Wednesday was, ‘Medical practice in the Face of security Challenges: a Critical Appraisal.’

The chairman of the association, Dr Makinde Akinlemibola, said it was unfortunate that many doctors were not encouraged to practice in the country because of the insecurity challenges.

“The theme of this AGM is actually to look at the relationship between doctors and other stakeholders which include the security and the populace. We want to see how we can fashion out a safer environment for medical practice in Nigeria.

“The government is not looking into the safety of doctors; we are losing a lot of doctors to brain drain and the ones that are left are not safe. it is high time the government looked into these problems and ensure the environment is safe for doctors to practice,” Akinlemibola said.

A former chairman the association, Dr Tunji Akintade, said there was the need for the government and other stakeholders to provide a safer environment for doctors to practice.

He said, “We have been calling for solutions to these challenges; doctors are being abducted, health facilities are not safe, and we think there should be a concern to raise the security operation in the country.

“people are not safe, patients are being killed in the hospital; we cannot practice in these environments.

“insecurity problem has been there before the pandemic but the COVID-19 has come with a lot of challenges as well. We have to be taken to a round table where we can find solutions to these problems. We have the opportunity now as there is a reform going on in the health sector. These are the things we should look at holistically.”

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