NMA Urges Gov’t To Halt ‘Japa’ Syndrome In Akwa Ibom

The new leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State, has expressed dismay at the constant migration of health professionals in search of greener pastures abroad, even to some African countries including Ghana.

Speaking during a press conference after his election as the new NMA state chairman, Dr. Aniekan Peter, lamented that it has become more worrisome and disappointing to note that the allure of higher wages has compelled his colleagues to abandon the health system at home to look elsewhere.

He blamed it on government’s failure to prioritise healthcare for the people and welfare of the healthcare professionals, whose wage level ranks very low when compared to some African countries, Europe and some Asian countries including Saudi Arabia.

The medical association chairman noted that medical professionals in some African countries earned five times more than what is obtainable in Nigeria, while those in Europe and other advanced economies earned over twenty times more than their Nigerian counterparts. Such wage disparity has combined to force the brain drain.

He regretted that the sad situation has left the health sector in a near – comatose state that even with the presence of health infrastructure and facilities, no adequate personnel to effectively drive the system.

Under his watch, he said he was on a mission to reform and reposition the system in line with the international best practices through cordial relationship and effective partnership with the state government under the leadership of governor Umo Eno, whom he assured, has the vision for a robust health system under his administration’s ARISE Agenda blueprint.

He, therefore, urged some members still aggrieved over issues of alleged financial discrepancies against the immediate past executive led by Prof Emem Abraham, to sheathe their swords and join hands with the new NMA leadership in its quest for better welfare and privileges for members.

The fraud allegation, he disclosed, was being investigated by the audit panel, promising not to interfere in the probe and to make the outcome public, irrespective of whether someone is indicted or not.

“As the Chairman of NMA in the state in conjunction with my Executive seated here, I wish to debunk that this report is misleading, did not emanate from NMA.

“That at no point in time was Prof. Emem Abraham, the Immediate Past Chairman, indicted for any financial crimes in the association. We would key into the Arise agenda of his excellency, the people’s governor to improve the health of every Akwa Ibom people,” he stressed.