Japa: Expert Calls on FG to Prioritise Welfare of Healthcare Professionals

A Professor of  Ophthalmology and a Consultant Ophthalmologist, University of Ilorin, Prof. Feyi Adepoju, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise health workers welfare to end the increasing brain drain in the health sector.

Adepoju made the call during 1st Annual Departmental Lecture of Department of Ophthalmology, Obafemi Awolowo University & Teaching Hospital Complex(OAUTHC), on Thursday, at Mini Auditorium, Phase 111, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.

The theme of the Lecture was:"Strategic Human Resource Management:A Key Element in Eye Care Service Delivery".

She said that many challenges such as: unstable electricity, lack of good roads, no portable water, low salary, environmental technology and poor motivation among others faced by these professionals led to Japa Syndrome.

According to her, if Federal Government can pay attention to these, professionals would stay back and those that left would surely returns to be effectively utilise their professionalism where needed.

"The forces of eye diseases is growing particularly as we continually have growing population, so the eye care service delivery has to increase.

"Every five seconds, someone globally is going blind; about 8 billion population in the world, 2.2 million people have blindness.

"So all hands must be on deck to safe these victims to regain their sight, Ophthalmologists has to focus on human work force to achieve their goals". she stated.

Adepoju explained that Ophthalmologists are working seriously that someone who is led, dependent, lost economic value, lost quality of life as a result of blindness within 5-10 minutes of good surgery can regain his sight.

Adepoju stated that 80% of their facilities do not have adequate number of human resource to work, even few that available are over worked with poor motivation.

The Keynote Speaker emphasised that for qualitative and quantitative achievement in eye care service delivery, every workers in ophthalmology department has to contribute their quota.

She explained further that for a Consultant Ophthalmologist to work effectively and efficiently, strategic human resource management of at least 15 other health workers are needed.

Adepoju charged the colleagues to extend their services to rural area with trained community healthcare workers, for eye care delivery is a team work and for them achieve their set goals within the stipulated time.

Also, the Chairman of the Programme, Mr Bode Adeniji, commended the organisers of the programme, urged the masses to ensure that they visit the Ophthalmologists for regular eye screening and other treatments to avoid blindness.

Adediji said that It is not palatable for anyone from age 30 to 50 to go blind, because of eye diseases that is treatable, therefore urged Federal Government not to handle the eye care service with levity hand.

He pledged to be a mobiliser for private and public stakeholders to partner the OAUTHC Ophthalmology department to deliver credible and affordable healthcare services to the nooks and crannies of the country.

He noted that 70 % of top level medical personnel in Nigeria dwells in urban area, only 20 to 30 % resides in rural area.

According to him,70 per cent of Nigeria population lives in rural area, stressed that the imbalance must be address at the micro and macro level.

The Head of Department of Ophthalmology, OAUTHC, Prof. Bernice Adegbehingbe, appreciated all the invited guests, said the initiative programme was set up for them to impact knowledge to the society .

Adegbehingbe adding that with the first annual lecture, important personnel were brought to partner with them to meet their demands like shortage of man power and infrastructure.

The awardees are: Mr Bode Adeniji, the Group Executive Chairman of Bode Adeniji Partnership, Kontinental Developers Nigeria Limited; Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, an Astutue Businessman and Entrepreneur.

Others are: Alhaja Sherifat Sarumi, Founder of SHERRYGOLD FREIGHT & PORT SERVICES and Mr Muritala Ibrahim, a Real Estate Agent, Food Processor.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that other dignitaries are: the Chief Medical Director OAUTHC, Prof John Okeniyi, Former Vice-Chancellor OAU, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, current Vice-Chancellor OAU, Prof Simeon Bamire among others.

(NAN)