Japa: Obasanjo calls for improved welfare package for health workers

Former Nigeria’s President, Olusegun Obasanjo has called on both federal and state governments to increased the welfare of the nation’s health workers, particularly, the residents doctors, to reduce the rate at which medical doctors desert Nigeria for foreign land.

Obasanjo made the call at the 44th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

He said, improving on the welfare of resident doctors becomes exigent in order to also checkmate brain drain which according to him, spells doom for the medical well-being of citizens.

The former President, who was represented by the Medical Director, Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Dr. Musa Olomu spoke at the conference, which has as its theme: “Evolving role of doctors in healthcare management and nation building”.

In his own speech, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun urged medical doctors to improve on environmental management, and called for e-waste to tackle the environmental pollution.

Abidoun who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, disclosed that statistics revealed that healthcare waste contributes about 30% of health challenges globally, calling for innovation through recycling.

“To be honest, our doctors need to start paying attention to the environment, because from the statistics available, healthcare waste contribute about 30% of environmental challenges across the globe”.

“So, if we don’t start doing something about our environment now, then what planet are we leaving behind for our children? I want to urge us, as we deliberate to take care of the environment, not just in our roles as medical practitioners, but as a role of environmental evangelists”.

“Some of us are found of using single-use plastic and styrofoam, we need to start using innovation by recycling. We from Africa have started innovation to make sure that we leave the African continent viable”

Earlier in his address, the National President of NARD, Dr. Dele Abdulahi Olaitan urged the resident doctors to be proactive and stay committed to their service.

“We are the backbone of our healthcare system bolstering over eight thousand skilled hands, providing essential care to our fellow citizens with unwavering dedication and professionalism in our private, state, and federal institutions”.

“The resilience and adaptability of the health sector as a testament to the innovative prowess and progressive capability of Nigeria doctors the team lead of the healthcare sector”.