Grace Semudara
Experts in the health sector has called on Government to reduce the exodus of medical Doctors from the country, which is popularly known as “Japa syndrome.
The group urged the government to be intentional about the welfare of health practioners and their comfort to encourage interesting and healthy working conditions, especially in rural areas.
The experts made the demands during a health outreach to local communities in Abuja.
The Health Outreach which was an initiative of the Citizens Participation Advancement and Awareness Initiative (CPAAI) , was held at Gwako Community in Gwagwalada local government area of Abuja with support from other NGOs .
They added that health experts are also human who need every form of encouragement from the government to function well.
The Country Director Ileori Foundation, Iyedele Oyedepo Bolaji, noted that ignorance on the part of local communities dwellers and inadequate health care delivery has contributed immensely to the poor state of health in the community.
“One of the basic needs of communities is healthcare, sadly health care in indigent communities in Nigeria is sometimes lacking and many times not available or inadequate.”
“Where proper health Care is not available, the mortaity rate increases, lives that could have been saved with proper and timely health care is lost.
Government seems to be struggling with the healthcare system which has resulted into the ‘japa syndrome’ of medical experts leaving the country at the detriment of improper medical practionals who cannot adequately cover Nigerians as it were.”
“Government should put modalities in place to attract medical practioners to healthcare system in local communities. Most times you should not expect medical practioners who went through medical schools and have lived all their lives in comfort to embrace the discomfort that comes with living in a local community.
“Government will do well to upgrade the facilities in the rural settlements, it is fine to build Primary Health Center but how effective is it, how equipped is it, how far with the maintenance.
She pleaded with the Government to do more in the aspect of Advocacy in the rural areas to promote healthy living and prevention of diseases.
The Coordinator Grace Medical Outreach International, Dr Kefas Jubril Gurama, A Paediatric Consultant frowned at the exorbitant cost of health care delivery in rural communities.
“The environment is underserved medically. People cannot afford medical health care, as it is unaffordable to the residents of local communities.
People in such communities live with chronic health conditions, beyond treatment that could have been prevented if the health care system is accessible in terms of monetary value”.
“Government should please upgrade health care facilities and subsidize the access fee, it should be a part of the benefits of subsidy removal to local communities such as this, some of the problems brought here today could have been curbed and mortality rates reduced if Government give more attention to the local health care delivery system.”
The Program Coordinator Citizens Participation Advancement and Awareness Initiative (CPAAI), Olufunke Omosola, explained that the community’s poor health status was discovered when the organization came to sensitize the local school on the ‘pad a girl’ project.
Lamenting the state of health care and mortality rates in the community, she urged well meaning Nigerians to collaborate with the Government to save lives in local communities through frequent health outreach.
“Looking at the current economic status of the nation, things are very difficult for the masses, especially those at the grassroot level. Concentration should be on subsidizing drug prices, and equip health centers with proper facilities as well as functioning basic social amenities.
“We want government to ensure that school have pad Banks to encourage young girls to embrace education even during menstruation” , she said.
Ismail Adairu while on his own part stated that community dwellers health outreach was a great innovation to the community as many were living with severe health conditions.
” I was not aware of my health challenges before this time, but I was able to explain and drugs were given to me. There are lots of people with worse cases that has been ascribed to witches and wizards, but today they have an understanding of their situation and the remedies to it”.
He further pleaded that attention be paid to women health care in the community.
The Community Women Leader Saadatu Ibrahim, expressed joy at the health intervention for the community, stating that it was a first of it’s kind.
She appreciated the organization and pleaded for more of such outreach In the Community.
