The scarcity of medical doctors in Kogi State has reached alarming levels, with the Chief Medical Director of Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Prof Isah Yahaya Adagiri, attributing this trend to the ‘Japa syndrome’.
During the 2024 budget defense at the Kogi State House of Assembly in Lokoja, Prof Adagiri expressed his concerns about the exodus of medical practitioners from the state. He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for granting standing approval to the hospital’s management to swiftly replace any departing medical doctor. However, despite the willingness to re-employ or replace these professionals, suitable candidates are extremely hard to come by.
The CMD highlighted the widespread migration of doctors leaving the country in droves, seeking more favorable work environments abroad. He emphasized the drawbacks of this trend, noting that such professionals expend their energy to earn every unit of local currency paid to them. In a poignant moment, Adagiri defied the allure of emigrating for greener pastures, expressing that he could not fathom abandoning his home, as he believed his final resting place should be within his beloved country’s borders.
Tragically, the Kogi State Specialist Hospital recently witnessed a loss, as one of its doctors relocated to Dubai for employment, only to meet an untimely demise. Prof Adagiri lamented that such fatalities could be linked to the perils of practicing medicine in foreign lands. He further revealed that the hospital consistently collaborates with the House Committee on Health and Social Services, striving to secure improved welfare packages for doctors. In his impassioned plea, he advocated for enhanced remuneration as a possible remedy to stem the tide of the ‘Japa syndrome’.
The unsettling reality of Kogi’s medical dearth has come to the fore, demanding urgent attention and intervention. The ‘Japa syndrome’ serves as a poignant backdrop to the struggles faced by both healthcare professionals and the healthcare system itself. As the global community grapples with the challenges of brain drain in numerous sectors, the healthcare sector in Kogi State stands as a microcosm of this complex, multifaceted issue. The need for comprehensive solutions to sustain and bolster the medical workforce is undeniably pressing, with far-reaching implications for the populace’s access to quality healthcare services.
