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Says four nurses left Ebonyi NOFIC in one day
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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC), Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has expressed concern over the continued mass exodus of doctors and nurses across Nigerian hospitals.
The hospital said that, in one day this month, four of its nurses left for greener pastures in Saudi Arabia.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Johnson Obuna, disclosed this to a socio-cultural women’s organisation, Umuada Igbo, which visited the hospital to offset the medical bills of some indigent patients.
Obuna, a Professor of Gynaecology, lamented that the exodus of doctors, nurses, and other health workers in the country has led to a shortage of medical personnel in various hospitals across the country.
He revealed that, in NOFIC Ebonyi State, the hospital advertised for 28 doctors to fill some vacancies and that only about eight applied for the job.
He also said the University College Hospital (UCH) advertised for many doctors and only fewer than ten applied for the job, and described the situation as a problem all over the country.
“The only challenge we have now is that doctors are leaving the country, nurses are leaving the country. So, those who are supposed to take care of the patients, to prevent fistula, are leaving because of the poor remuneration they are receiving. A doctor’s salary cannot buy petrol; a nurse’s salary cannot buy yam in the market. So, many people are leaving.
“We just advertised for 28 doctors recently and we got only about eight doctors. UCH advertised for doctors and only less than ten doctors applied for it. So, it is a problem all over the country. Today, this month alone, about four nurses have resigned from this NOFIC and left for greener pastures, and that is what is happening all over the country.”
He urged the Federal Government to begin to pay doctors, nurses, and other health workers very well and ensure improved security to end their exodus.
“I have told those in government that the only solution to this is to pay doctors, nurses, and health workers very well. Nigerian workers are not generally well paid, but when you now allow those who are taking care of a nation to leave, it is a problem, and all over the world there is no way a doctor’s salary and a nurse’s salary are the same as with other health workers. It is not done anywhere because it takes a lot to train a doctor.
“So, we have to look into all these things to ensure that we prevent our workforce. If I travel now to Saudi Arabia, my salary will be about ₦8m monthly without tax, no tax, and they will give me flights to travel home once or twice in a year, and they will be giving me food every day.
“The Federal Government can decide to say no tax; it is a way of incentive, and that’s what Saudi Arabia did, and you see Nigerians there. They pay you big money, no tax, they give you accommodation, light, food.
“This is why Nigerians are going there. So, there are many ways to keep doctors in the country and then make sure they are not kidnapped. Many people left because of insecurity; they left. So, we are in serious trouble, and when you see a doctor becoming angry, we are under pressure,” Obuna stated.
