Brain Drain: NARD laments ‘mass exodus’ of members to other African countries

*The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has decried the reported mass exodus of its members ‘every day’ to other African countries basically for improved working conditions and enhanced social infrastructure

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In view of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors’ (NARD) plan to embark on a nationwide protest, the medial professionals have decried a trend where the mass exodus of its members “every day” migrate to other African countries for “better” working conditions and improved social infrastructure.

ConsumerConnect reports the doctors have announced their intention to picket the Federal Ministry of Health, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), and Federal and state tertiary health institutions across Nigeria, effective Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

NARD, July 25, had declared a “total and indefinite strike” in the significant sector of the economy.

The Association’s decision is said to be the latest in the resident doctors’ efforts at making the authorities to fast-track implementation of a prior agreement with the Federal Government.

These include the immediate payment of the 2023 MRTF, the immediate release of the circular on one-for-one replacement, and the payment of skipping arrears.

Dr. Emeka Orji, President of NARD, who stated this while featuring on Channels TV Sunday, August 6, 2023, noted poor working conditions in the Nigerian health sector had deteriorated to such a degree that resident doctors were migrating to foreign countries.

How Japa syndrome hits health sector of economy

Orji also disclosed the number of Nigerian resident doctors has reduced from 16,000 to between 12,000 and 15,000 in a few years with about 1,000 to 2,000 colleagues lost to the japa syndrome annually.

In relation to the affected doctors’ preferred countries, the NARD Chief stated: “Some of them are even going to African countries.

“That would tell you how bad the Nigerian health sector has become, that doctors leave this country and go to African countries.”

According to him, “they have better working conditions there; they have better infrastructure. And we are supposed to be giants to Africa.”[do_widget id=heateor_sss_sharing-2]