The Kwara State government has expressed deep concern over the critical shortage of medical doctors in its health facilities, attributing the crisis to the ongoing brain drain popularly known as ‘Japa’ syndrome. The phenomenon, characterized by the mass emigration of Nigerian medical professionals seeking better opportunities abroad, has left many public hospitals in Kwara severely understaffed and struggling to provide adequate healthcare services.
With a population exceeding 3.6 million, Kwara State currently has only about 650 medical doctors, resulting in a doctor-to-patient ratio of approximately 1:5,538-far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 1:600. This alarming disparity was highlighted by Dr. Ola Ahmed, outgoing chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Kwara Branch, who described the situation as a significant healthcare crisis impacting service delivery.
Dr. Ahmed identified economic hardship, insecurity, and poor working conditions as key drivers behind the exodus of doctors to countries like the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for recent salary adjustments aimed at motivating healthcare workers and curbing the brain drain but emphasized that more comprehensive measures are needed.
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) also reported that only about 6,000 medical consultants remain in the country, with many approaching retirement age and insufficient numbers being trained to replace them. This trend threatens to further deplete Nigeria’s healthcare workforce in the coming years.
Kwara’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Amina El-Imam, stressed the importance of targeted policies domesticated to local realities to improve healthcare delivery and retain medical personnel. Meanwhile, experts advocate for improved working conditions, better remuneration, and enhanced infrastructure to stem the tide of emigration.
The Kwara government’s alarm underscores a broader national challenge, as Nigeria grapples with the loss of skilled healthcare workers vital to the health and well-being of its citizens.
