Lagos partners LUTH, NIMR to address brain drain, Lassa fever says Health Commissioner

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has disclosed that the Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Yaba, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba, and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) are working together to address brain drain phenomenon and forestall outbreak of Lassa fever.

Speaking at the send-off of LUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chris Bode recently, he said: “We are fortunate to have two teaching hospitals in Lagos and yet we are not producing enough medical personnel. So, we need to increase the size of the institutes that exist and look to the private sector and government to help our output of medical professionals to counter the brain drain phenomenon going on in Lagos and Nigeria.”

Describing Prof. Bode as a great ally in the medical eco-space, he added: “During COVID-19, he was by my side. Whenever there are emergencies in Lagos, he is by my side. In the area of strategic planning, he is there. I’m wishing him well. He is retiring but I’m sure he is not tired and he will always be there for us as we need the vast amount of experience and expertise that he has.”

Abayomi said there is no Lassa fever death in Lagos adding: “We are ready. We do see sporadic cases and we know the virus is very contagious. All our members of staff are trained and there is strong collaboration between Ministry of Health and LUTH Microbiology laboratory headed by Prof. Sunday Omilabu.”

Fielding questions from journalists, Prof. Bode advised the president-elect to address brain drain and improve the quality of life of health workers. To him, “if there is one thing I will like to advise the incoming President, it is to ensure that the National Health Insurance Act lives up to its responsibility by ensuring that hospitals, doctors, nurses and other health workers get good pay for the good work we are doing so that hospitals can recover the cost of equipment they use.”

Commending staff and management of LUTH, he described his experience as “a humbling roller-coaster one, full of challenges, thrills, achievements, and ups and downs but to God’s glory, I am happy and I humbly say LUTH is better today than when we met it. This no doubt it is as a result of the collaborations with a lot of good people, goodwill and encouragement from all over.”