Lagos faces a deficit of 30,000 medical practitioners due to brain drain. Health Commissioner appeals to new doctors to address manpower shortage.
In a desperate bid to address the acute shortage of medical professionals in Lagos State, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has made an impassioned plea to newly graduated doctors and dental surgeons. During the induction ceremony for the 18th set of graduating medical doctors and 8th set of graduating dental surgeons at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Abayomi revealed that the state is grappling with a deficit of 30,000 medical practitioners.
The mass migration of healthcare workers seeking greener pastures abroad has severely impacted the state's healthcare sector, leading to a critical shortage of manpower. Abayomi acknowledged the lure of relocating abroad but urged the inductees to consider specializing in various fields and contributing to improving the health sector in Nigeria.
"We have a shortage of about 30,000 medical professionals in Lagos," Abayomi stated. "I know many of you would like to 'japa' (relocate abroad). We have a lot of Nigerians in the diaspora. You have the freedom of choice to 'Japa' out of Nigeria, but what we would like to see is a set of professionals that have the opportunity to 'Japa' and still have an impact on the ground."
Abayomi also encouraged those who choose to go abroad to expand their capabilities to consider returning to Nigeria, emphasizing the need for a deliberate decision to contribute to the nation's healthcare system.
