Hamzat Urges Nigeria to Boost Doctor Training Capacity
Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Advocates Increased Doctor Training Capacity in Nigeria to Tackle Brain Drain
Hamzat, in a conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, addressed the concerning issue of brain drain among medical professionals in Nigeria.
He acknowledged the significant number of medical practitioners choosing to migrate to more developed nations and emphasized the urgency for Nigeria to bolster its capacity to train and produce more doctors who can cater to the nation's healthcare needs.
The deputy governor recognized human migration as an inevitable phenomenon, emphasizing that people constantly move around the world for various reasons.
Hamzat expressed his perspective on the matter, stating, "Human migration is a natural occurrence, and it is expected that people will come and go. However, as a nation, we have the capacity to train a greater number of doctors."
He clarified that his stance is not against the brain drain of medical professionals, but rather emphasized the importance of establishing a robust system to train more doctors, rather than solely lamenting their departure.
Hamzat proposed that if the current annual training capacity is 5,000 doctors, efforts should be made to increase this number to 15,000, as it would greatly benefit the country's healthcare system.
Hamzat highlighted that it is beyond the government's control to prevent individuals from pursuing opportunities in different countries.
Drawing a parallel, he mentioned that even in 2022, 197 Americans willingly renounced their citizenship and became Singaporeans. This demonstrates that people will always seek new horizons and relocate.
Hamzat suggested that instead of attempting to restrict these movements, the Nigerian government should explore avenues to benefit from the expertise and knowledge of Nigerian doctors who choose to work abroad.
Hamzat emphasized the need for reciprocity when it comes to the migration of doctors. He suggested that if a significant number of doctors choose to work in the United Kingdom, the UK government should provide some form of compensation or benefit to Nigeria in return.
In light of this, Hamzat stressed the importance of increasing the capacity of medical colleges in Nigeria to train more doctors. This would help address the brain drain issue and ensure a sufficient supply of healthcare professionals within the country.
Regarding Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's second term administration, Hamzat stated that the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda (Transportation and Traffic Management; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos State a 21st Century Megacity, Entertainment and Tourism; and Security and Governance) from the first term would be continued. Additionally, the 'Plus' aspect in the second term agenda aimed to foster greater social inclusion.
Hamzat emphasized the importance of poverty alleviation and empowering individuals to start their own businesses, regardless of size, based on their skills and interests. He highlighted the administration's commitment to youth engagement and promoting gender equality, with a specific focus on reaching women in rural areas. The goal is to ensure inclusivity and uplift everyone, enabling them to actively contribute to the Lagos Agenda.
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