The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, has assured that the mass emigration of healthcare professionals, referred to as the “japa syndrome,” will soon come to an end
He made the statement during a working visit to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on Monday.
Salako attributed the impending end of the trend to the President Bola Tinubu administration’s focused efforts to strengthen the health sector through strategic reforms and policies.
He expressed confidence that these efforts would address the challenges facing the sector.
The minister emphasised that public hospital workers should not feel compelled to leave the country, given the ongoing improvements in remuneration and working conditions.
“Within Nigeria’s economic realities, health workers are among the best-paid professionals.
“However, beyond salary increases, we must cultivate a stronger sense of commitment and passion for the profession,” Salako explained.
He added that raising doctors’ salaries alone would not solve the sector’s challenges.
“If we increase doctors’ pay, other professionals, such as teachers, will also demand pay raises,” he said.
Salako also urged health workers to embrace patriotism and consider the long-term benefits of staying in Nigeria.
“East or West, home is best. No matter where you go outside your country, you remain a second-class citizen,” he stated.
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