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THE wife of the Governor of Ondo State, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has appealed to Nigeria healthcare providers, especially doctors, to discontinue the JAPA syndrome to,z salvage the health sector from total collapse.
Appreciating their efforts so far in providing good services, the Ondo State First Lady lamented the rate at which Nigerian Doctors migrate abroad in search of better welfare package, which she affirmed would have grave effect on the healthcare delivery.
She spoke at the 54th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, PAN, held at the international culture and event centre, the Dome, Akure the state capital, on Wednesday.
Mrs Akeredolu, who was conferred with an award of Excellence in recognition of her numerous contributions to the welfare of children through initiatives like Solayo safe delivery kit, expressed her appreciation for the good healthcare services provided by Nigerian Medical professionals, which she benefitted as a breast cancer Survivor treated at the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan.
She said: “I do appreciate you all, not just because I’m also a public health professional but also a Nigerian that had benefitted from medical services you all provide. If you read my story which is in the public domain, I’m a breast cancer survivor of 25years and still counting and the Doctors at UCH made it happen; that’s why I will remain grateful to all of you in this profession. At a time when people had expected me to go abroad and have my treatment, I believed in the doctors at UCH. So, I’m saddened by the Japa syndrome because apparently, the best amongst us are leaving in troops. But yet some of you have remained, and I’m pleading with you to stay to take care of us. “
Mrs. Akeredolu expressed optimism that the PAN Conference would address the situation on how to change the narrative and figure out how to provide an enabling environment for Doctors to operate, thereby, drastically reduce the japa syndrome among them.
In his opening remarks, a former minister of state for education, Dr. Adewunmi Abitoye, who is the chairman of the occasion, congratulated the paediatric association and commended them for their works in hospitals, saying that the lives of children and mothers really depend on them
The President of PAN, Prof Olufemi Ogunrinde, noted that this was the first time Ondo hosted the programme, saying he wasn’t surprised considering the great strides taken by the state governor in health and education sectors.
The 54th PAN AGM and the scientific conference was themed: “Optimising child healthcare in Nigeria despite current socioeconomic challenges”.
Earlier, the Chairman of the conference’s organising committee, Dr. Olumuyiwa Alonge had explained that it was co-hosted by two sisters State, Ondo and Ekiti. He hinted that the theme was aimed at addressing the multiple challenges faced in Nigeria which affect the purchasing power of people, including health equipment.
He affirmed that exodus of health workers to foreign countries further compounded the problem and obstructed the proper functioning of hospitals, hence the reasons to brainstorm on how to mitigate these challenges.
Mary Agidi
Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Office of the First Lady)
Jan., 18th, 2023.