Di president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu don approve one policy wey dey address di issue of health workers wey dey japa comot for di kontri.
Di policy dey come afta plenti tori of how relocation of medical doctors, nurses and oda health personnel dey affect di kontri.
On Monday 12 August 2024, di Minister of Health, Ali Pate, say di policy go look into di wahala wey dey face di human resources for Nigeria healthcare sector.
“Dis policy dey more dan just a response to di ongoing japa of healthcare workers; na way to manage and bring back health workers wey don comot so as to better support and reward dem to meet di healthcare needs of all Nigerians,” di health minister tok.
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Di policy name na ‘National Policy on Health Workforce Migration.’
For 2022, di join body of doctors for Nigeria say plenti of dia members bin indicate interest to leave di kontri if goment no settle issues around medical workers for di kontri.
Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) headed by Dr Emeka Orji, say plenti of dia members don already japa sotay di situation for govment hospitals don bad.
According to di World Health Organization (WHO), di standard ratio na one doctor to 600 patients, but di case for Nigeria don bad as plenti doctors dey unaccounted for and di ratio dey fall below di global recommendation.
Wetin dey inside di healthcare policy
Di minister say di healthcare policy wey di president sign go help review working conditions wey go ensure say health workers wey dey rural areas get di attention and reward wey dem deserve.
E say di policy go try grow and to retain top health talent to remain within Nigeria.
Five oda tins to note for di policy:
1. Digital health
Di statement say di policy dey seek to use technologies to deliver health services.
According to di minister, di policy go focus on digital health infrastructure wey go include Electronic Medical Records (EMR), comprehensive health workforce registry.
E add say, dis step go help drive di health system better for Nigeria and also make sure say health workers dey well distributed wit access to quality care.
2. International training
Di statement say di policy dey seek to build capacity wey go give di health workers enough skills, according to di minister.
For several years, health workers for Nigeria don ask for international trainings to increase dia professional skills like oda workers for obodo oyinbo.
“Dis investment in human capital na commitment to retain and empower our healthcare workforce,” Ali Pate tok.
3. Return of health workers wey dey abroad
According to di policy, health workers wey return back to Nigeria go dey restored into di health system again.
Di policy go introduce registration processes, rewards and encourage talented health workers to return back from abroad to work for Nigeria.
“Dis approach go help bring our abroad pipo to close di gaps within di health sector.”
4. Exchange of health workers
Di statement say di policy go also see to di exchange of health workers wey go benefit Nigeria.
“Dis agreements dey designed to protect national interests as we respect di rights and aspirations of our healthcare professionals.”
Di health minister say make oda kontris begin a 1:1 match wey be di training of one worker to replace every trained Nigerian worker wey dem receive.
5. Working hours for young doctors
One of di matter wey dey cause gbege for di Nigerian health sector na how doctors dey do over time and long hours of work.
Some don complain say e dey affect dem to dey do plenti work sake of shortage of doctors wen di environment no even support dem well.
Di health minister say dis healthcare policy go take di mental well-being of young doctors serious.
E say di policy go ensure reasonable working hours for young doctors and provide for dia health checks too.
“Dis measures na to create a supportive work environment wey go reduce tiredness and improve job satisfaction.”
Wetin dey make doctors japa
Di National President of NARD bin tell BBC Pidgin for one earlier interview for 2022 say poor financial package plus oda benefits wey no dey, follow for wetin make some doctors dey japa.
“We no get car loans, better insurance and support for here, di doctors dey move go wia dem feel say tins go better for dem” na so e tok.
E say 13 years ago na im dem introduce di salary structure wey goment dey use pay doctors till now.
Oga Orji add say wit di growing inflation plus devaluation of di kontri currency, wetin pesin bin dey earn as junior doctor plenti years ago dey bigger dan wetin dem dey earn now as senior doctors unto how di kontri money don fall reach.
“We don dey negotiate wit goment for dem to review di salaries. Now na election period, we dey tell dem make dem consider our matter as dem dey play politics, dem fit do election finish come back and dem no go see doctors and nurses again for hospitals. E bin tok.
Japa don become major matter for di kontri.
Dis na sake of plenti factors wey include lack of basic amenities, unemployment, poor pay for workers, bad security situation and bad health system.
Nigeria bureau of statistics release report say about 130 million Nigerians dey leave below di poverty level.
One UK immigration report for 2022 show say dem grant visa to over 13,000 healthcare workers including doctors for di past one year.
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