Japa syndrome: Kwara laments acute shortage of health workers

From Layi Olanrewaju, IlorinThe Kwara State government has expressed alarm over its struggle to retain medical doctors amid the ongoing ‘Japa’ syndrome, the mass emigration of professionals draining Nigeria’s health sector.Speaking at a two-day inter-ministerial briefing in Ilorin on Tuesday, Dr Abdulraheem Abdulmalik, Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board, revealed that only 89 doctors currently serve the state’s public hospitals, far below the needed 180–200.“The mass exodus of health professionals is severely affecting our capacity to provide adequate care,” Abdulmalik said.

“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved an upgrade in doctors’ salaries to match federal pay to retain the few we have left.” googletag.cmd.



push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0'); }); This revised salary structure has prompted three doctors who had resigned to return, raising the total to 89. However, the state’s doctor-to-patient ratio remains critical, with Nigeria’s average estimated at 1:5,000, compared to the World Health Organisation’s recommended 1:600.

Abdulmalik outlined a long-term strategy to address the shortage, including sponsoring medical students from their clinical years (400 level) in exchange for mandatory service in Kwara for the same duration. “This will create a continuous cycle to close the doctor gap,” he said.Beyond healthcare, the briefing highlighted the AbdulRazaq administration’s economic reforms.

Hon. Damilola Yusuf Adelodun, Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, discussed high-impact projects like the Kwara Garment Factory, Sugar Film Factory, and the revitalised Kwara Hotels, aimed at job creation and sustainable growth. $(document).

ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); Addressing past failures of public enterprises like Kwara Express and Tsonga Farms, she said, “Innovation is at the heart of these new projects.

Unlike in the past, we are building sustainable business models and are open to public-private partnerships to ensure longevity.”The inter-ministerial briefing, concluding on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, covered updates on agriculture, education, security, and social welfare, underscoring the government’s commitment to transparency and inclusive development.The post Japa syndrome: Kwara laments acute shortage of health workers appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.

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