Health workers in Kano continue to migrate overseas as local conditions become increasingly difficult for them to thrive.
This is just as hundreds of patients continue flocking to underfunded and undermanned public hospitals.
In the last three years, about 500 doctors and nurses at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala, relocated to foreign countries in continuation of the japa syndrome.
Ten nurses left the hospital in the last five months alone, according to Nafisatu Talatu Musa, the hospital’s Head of the Department of Nursing.
The term “japa” derives from Nigerian slang meaning to escape or flee, often to seek a perceived better life abroad.
Talatu disclosed this in an outreach organized by the hospital to mark this year’s International Nurses Week.
International Nurses Day is an annual celebration honoring the invaluable contributions of nurses worldwide with the theme: "Our Nurses Our Future, The Economic Power of Care".
The theme, according to the President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), Dr. Pamela Cipriano underscores the crucial role of nursing in healthcare systems.
It also emphasizes the significance of strategic investments in nursing for societal and economic benefits.
Speaking at the outreach, Talatu identified “poor working conditions, inadequate remuneration, and lack of career advancement opportunities” as some of the factors responsible for the japa syndrome.
She, however, stressed that the government must improve the working conditions of healthcare workers to address the “health crisis.”
With about 218 million people to cater to, Nigeria requires at least 363,000 additional doctors, according to the president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Nigeria currently has only 24,000 medical doctors, while the current doctor-patient ratio is 1:9,083, meaning one doctor per 9,083 Nigerians. That is to say, there is one doctor to attend to 9083 patients!
However, the chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, Dr. Jimoh Saheed, said the hospital lost about 50 consultants and 150 resident doctors to the japa syndrome in the last four years.
In 2023, over 789 nurses and 162 doctors relocated outside Nigeria from Kano State alone, according to the NMA in the state.
Abubakar Muhammad Isa, who represents the National Association of Nigeria Nurses And Midwives (NANNM), blamed poor welfare packages, insecurity, and inadequate equipment for the japa syndrome.
He, however, called on the government to intervene to avoid an imminent collapse of Nigeria’s health system.
Nurse Muhammad revealed that the medical outreach targets 3,000 residents, adding that free drugs are given to the beneficiaries.
Nurse Muhammad further said it carries health outreaches for commercial drivers at Kofar Ruwa Motor Park on risks associated with driving. Just as he said, “Spine-health outreach is also carried to halt spine-related complications.”
One of the beneficiaries, Abubakar Ahmed, applauded the gesture, saying he was given free medication after the team of nurses confirmed he suffered from an ulcer.
