Dr James Omietimi, Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa in Bayelsa, says the major challenge confronting and still lingering in the health facility is the ‘Japa’ syndrome.
Omietimi disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Yenagoa.
According to him, the Japa syndrome has impacted negatively on our healthcare delivery system in Nigeria today.
The new CMD has worked with the hospital for over 25 years as staff before his appointment few months ago.
He highlighted some of the challenges faced due to the departure of health professionals seeking better opportunities abroad and also the rate at which health professionals were being kidnapped in the country.
“This Japa movement has been a major challenge, not only for us here in FMC Yenagoa but most of the hospitals across Nigeria as a country.
“Most of our doctors, nurses, pharmacists and lab scientists are leaving Nigeria for greener pastures abroad and at an alarming rate.
“This movement has led to understaffing here and big workload on the remaining medical professionals,” he said.
The CMD stated also other aspects included poor remuneration, lack of security for personnel and infrastructure development.
He called for retirement age for medical health workers to increase from 60 to 65, or even 70 years, as it was done in other professions like university lectures and judges.
Omietimi reassured the general public of the hospital’s commitment to providing medical services, in spite shortage of clinical personnel.
He said the FMC had grown from what it used to be then, and has still remained one of the best hospitals in Bayelsa that served the people better.
According to him, government hospitals are not always funded like the private hospitals.
He urged the Bayelsa Government led by Gov. Douye Diri, to open doors for partnerships in the state’s medical sector and not only when there were major problems. (NAN)
