The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State branch, on Thursday, disclosed that ongoing stakeholder engagement to ensure improved remuneration for medical professionals will help tackle the japa syndrome and brain drain within the health sector.

According to Dr. Olumuyiwa Alonge, the NMA chairman in the state, the measure, if adhered to, will also attract more health workers to the state, and the process will reduce the excessive workload in the sector.

Alonge mentioned this during the 48th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association, held at the NMA House, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital.

The chairman of the state’s medical association emphasised that the organisation is committed to helping the state become a trailblazer in the country’s health sector.

He said: “In the last year, matters concerning welfare conditions and remuneration of doctors and other health workers have taken the front burner. There has been significant stakeholder engagement to ensure improved remuneration for the health workforce, both at the national and state levels.

“This, if done, we believe, should stem the tide of the ‘JAPA Syndrome,’ and at the state level, it should also attract more health workers to the state, thereby reducing the excessive workload experienced at the moment. Rest assured that the government, at both the national and state levels, is attending to our welfare, and it will soon begin to yield results.

“As a critical stakeholder in the health sector, NMA Ondo State branch is coming up with a position paper that could serve as a roadmap to quality health care and further contribute to the government’s master plan for health. This shall soon be delivered to his excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.”

While delivering the lecture on the theme, ‘Delivery of Quality Healthcare to the People of Ondo State in the Face of Dwindling Human Resources,’ the former Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, Prof. Temitope Alonge, stated that quality healthcare can be provided despite diminishing human resources if medical doctors in the state collaborate with the government.

The Professor of Orthopaedic and Trauma emphasised that the Ondo State Chapters of the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) must develop the guidelines for the mandatory Rural Postings of Resident Doctors as required by the Postgraduate Medical Colleges to General and Specialist Hospitals in order to support the health manpower needs.

Meanwhile, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, stated that his administration is making efforts to bridge the gap in the state’s health sector.

“On human resources, you recall that sometimes last year, Mr. Governor recruited health workers across the board in all categories—doctors, nurses, pharmacists, all over, even the junior care. And it’s a continuous thing. We still have some outstanding tasks that we need to do.

“Human resources for health are the ones that can give to the people of Ondo State efficient, quality, affordable, and effective people-centred health services. So, he is doing that, and I can assure you that, you know, in no time, we’ll be recruiting doctors and other carers across the board. And I know the issue of Japa syndrome is not limited to Ondo State,” he said.