Posted on: Wed 20-07-2022

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State chapter, has decried mass exodus of doctors and other health professionals from the state.

It said that the state suffers highest incidence of braindrain in the South-West region.

The state NMA Chairman, Dr. Stella Adegbehingbe, attributed the ugly incidence to unfavourable working conditions and bad treatment of the medical professionals by the state government.

Adegbehingbe, who spoke yesterday in Akure during a press conference to herald the yearly general meeting of the association, also identified irregular payment of salaries of medical doctors as one of the major factors contributing to the issue.

She said: “The issue of brain-drain is something that is very massive. We have been engaging the government on it.

“At my assumption of office, there were several strikes owing to issue of salaries. Our appeal at the beginning was that government should look for a way in addressing the health sector issues because once they start leaving, it would be difficult to get them back.

“I have said it several times that the only solution is the regular payment of salaries. Colleagues are complaining bitterly. Every morning, I do receive calls on this and after they have made the complaints, they will say, Chairman, I can’t wait again, I am leaving and that is the main cause.”

The NMA chairman, however, noted that her leadership had been able to assist a lot of members on the issue of welfare, adding that there is a functioning website where their history is being documented.

“This executive has been able to produce a national leader and we have been able to settle the land issue we have with the government. We do also visit our elderly health personnel regularly and give them gifts.

“I thank the doctors and stakeholders in the state for granting us the privilege to be able to lead them because we have learnt a lot and we are still learning.”

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