Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has announced a lump sum of ₦200 million as grants to support the residency training of 150 doctors.
Mr Zulum made this announcement on Wednesday during a meeting with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Maiduguri, as part of measures to discourage Japa syndrome and “uplift the quality of health services in the state.”
“Japa” is a Nigerian slang used to describe the act of professionals leaving Nigeria to seek better opportunities and living conditions abroad.
Nigeria loses thousands of health workers annually to Japa syndrome.
Under his new initiative, the Borno governor said 50 doctors employed by the state government will receive ₦2 million each, while over 100 Borno indigenes working in federal institutions will receive ₦1 million each. These allowances are in addition to their normal salaries and allowances.
He said the financial support aims to provide doctors with advanced clinical skills, practical experience and specialized training, thus contributing to the overall improvement of medical services in the region.
Brain drain
Nigeria has been grappling with a brain drain as thousands of Nigerian health professionals, including doctors, leave the country every year in search of better opportunities.
Article page with promotion of financial support
Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate recently revealed that the country now has only 55,000 licensed doctors as 16,000 doctors have left the country in the last five years and around 17,000 have been transferred.
He also said that 67 per cent of Nigerian doctors who migrate go to practice in the UK.
To manage the mass exodus of health workers from the country, President Bola Tinubu approved the National Policy on Health Personnel Migration last week.
Mr. Pate announced that the policy is a comprehensive strategy to manage, leverage and reverse the migration of health workers.
He added that the policy will also encourage the return of professionals to Nigeria through attractive incentives and reintegrate them into the country’s healthcare system.
Many states like Borno are also making their own efforts to retain health workers.
Borno's efforts
Mr. Zulum highlighted his administration’s commitment to healthcare delivery and appreciated the collaborative efforts of national health leaders to improve healthcare services in Borno State.
The governor said his administration is committed to improving health care for residents and underscored the critical role that well-trained medical professionals play in ensuring the delivery of quality health care.
He urged NMA leaders to work with the state government to improve health care for residents.
Plans for the health sector
Mr. Zulum highlighted his government's planned interventions for the health sector, including the recruitment of over 1,000 medical professionals, the construction of housing for doctors and the establishment of a state teaching hospital, in addition to offering scholarships to medical students.
He said his administration plans to allocate more than 15 percent of its budget to healthcare and improve primary healthcare facilities in Borno.
NMA Comments
In its reaction, the NMA called the governor a “champion of quality healthcare and the well-being of healthcare workers.”
NMA President Bala Audu commended Governor Zulum’s leadership and urged him to continue advocating for quality universal healthcare.
Mr. Audu also commended Governor Zulum for “his remarkable achievements in developing healthcare infrastructure and initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of health workers.”
He highlighted a successful medical outreach programme initiated by doctors of various specialties, which he said contributed to the advancement of health services in the state.