In a tragic turn of events, Alimosho General Hospital (ALGH) in Lagos witnessed the untimely deaths of three senior medical doctors within a mere five days. Identified as Messers Otukoya, Aluko, and Shuaib, these principal medical officers at the Lagos State-owned health facility passed away under circumstances described by their colleagues as demeaning and harrowing.
The Lagos State chapter of the Medical Guild and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is in mourning, grappling with the devastating impact of the brain drain crisis that has afflicted the nation's healthcare system. The exodus of Nigerian healthcare workers abroad has resulted in chronic staff shortages and intensified stress levels among those who remain.
In response to these distressing events, the Medical Guild declared a three-day mourning period across the Lagos State Health System and issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. They demand a "meaningful engagement" on welfare matters affecting doctors in Lagos State and urgently call for measures to address the brain drain crisis.
Nigeria's healthcare sector currently faces a severe shortage of skilled medical professionals, with the UK immigration report revealing that 13,609 Nigerian healthcare workers, including doctors, were granted working visas in the past year. This mass departure has left only 24,000 licensed medical doctors available in the country, creating an alarming doctor-patient ratio.
Governor Sanwo-Olu recently announced palliatives within the health sector, including subsidised deliveries, in an effort to ease the burden on healthcare workers. However, the tragic loss of these doctors underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and immediate reforms to protect the nation's healthcare system from further devastation.
The Medical Guild, the NMA, and the Lagos State government are set to engage in discussions to address these pressing concerns, with hopes of preventing further loss of lives in the medical community due to stress and staff shortages.
