Brain drain: Diri begs resident doctors to be patriotic

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has appealed to medical doctors and other health practitioners to show more patriotism by joining forces with progressive elements in the country to turn around the health sector.

He made the appeal on Thursday while declaring the annual conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre Chapter, at the Bayelsa Medical University in Yenagoa. Commenting on the conference theme, “Brain Drain and Residency Training Programme in Nigeria: The Way Forward,” he urged doctors and other professionals to make necessary sacrifices in building the country.

Represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor pointed out that although government has not done enough in terms of their remuneration and welfare, health personnel rank among better paid workers in the country. He insisted that the conditions under which doctors work have improved, expressing optimism that there would be more improvement in the near future.

Diri said an executive bill on Residency has been sent to the state House of Assembly that will soon be passed and signed into law to address some of the needs of resident doctors. He added that the state government has substantially addressed the issue of skipping allowances and call room for doctors at the state teaching hospital as well as provided residential accommodation for House Officers at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

Wife of the Governor, Dr Gloria Diri assured the doctors of her readiness to support them to improve healthcare in the state. Represented by the Chief Whip of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, she charged the participants to come up with far reaching ideas to help develop the health sector.