-SEB EDITORIAL-
The
Great Exodus: Nigeria’s Medical Brain Drain and the Price of Neglect
In the
heart of Nigeria’s healthcare crisis lies a staggering disparity that has
become both a symbol and a catalyst for the mass migration of medical
professionals: while doctors in Nigeria earn an average of ₦2 million annually,
their counterparts who have “JAPA’d” to the UK can earn upwards of ₦50 million.
This yawning gap is not merely a matter of numbers, it is a reflection of systemic neglect, broken promises, and a hemorrhaging workforce that threatens the very foundation of public health in the country.
The phenomenon, popularly dubbed the “JAPA syndrome,” encapsulates the desperation and disillusionment of Nigeria’s medical professionals. Faced with unpaid salaries, dilapidated infrastructure, and a government health budget that hovers around a paltry 4.6% of GDP, far below the 15% Abuja Declaration target, doctors and nurses are voting with their feet.
The recent strike by the National
Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which began on September 12, 2025, is
just the latest eruption in a long-simmering volcano of frustration. Their
demands, ranging from the release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund
to the payment of five months’ salary arrears, are not new. They are echoes of
past pleas that have gone unansweredFellow Nurses Africa.
As
doctors walk off the job, the burden shifts to Nigeria’s nurses, who are now
the last line of defense in a crumbling system. In hospitals across Abuja and
beyond, nurses are triaging emergencies, stabilizing patients, and managing
wards with minimal support. Many work 12 to 18-hour shifts, often without
adequate safety measures. The tragic death of a nurse at Abaji General Hospital
from a snake bite, due to poor safety protocols, is a grim reminder of the
risks they face daily.
The
consequences of this crisis are not confined to hospital corridors. Patients
are caught in the crossfire, with stroke victims waiting hours for care,
maternal health services deteriorating, and rural communities left with no
access to medical attention. Nigeria already contributes 20% of global maternal
deaths, and the current wave of strikes and emigration threatens to push those
numbers even higher.
Meanwhile,
the allure of foreign shores grows stronger. In the UK, Nigerian doctors and
nurses find not just better pay, but respect, resources, and opportunities for
growth. With salaries starting at £28,000 and rising with experience, the
contrast is stark. Over 42,000 nurses have left Nigeria in recent years, and
the pipeline shows no signs of slowing.
This is
not merely a story of economic migration, it is a tale of systemic failure.
Until Nigeria confronts the root causes of its healthcare collapse, the exodus
will continue, and the nation will pay the price in lives lost, talent drained,
and a future mortgaged.
No comments:
Post a Comment