Health

STAKEHOLDERS in Nigeria health sector have expressed optimism that reforms in health sector and intervention of the presidency would address various challenges facing the sector.

They spoke at the ongoing 36th National Meeting of Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria (IHSAN) in Ibadan.

The National President of the IHSAN, Mrs Rosemary Archibong, said that the instant workshop was chosen to bring to the fore the difficulties being experienced in getting well-trained employable professionals and the difficulty in retaining the same in the health institutions.

“Some of the reasons for these difficulties are based on the perennial inadequacy of the health sector funding, checkered academic calendar in our tertiary educational institutions, skyrocketing living costs, among others.

“These challenges create the tendency for professionals to leave the country whenever opportunity presents itself.

“Reports state that 4,460 nurses have left Nigeria for the UK between 2019 and 2022. The same staggering figures apply to other health professionals, including the medical doctors,” Archibong said.

She said the procurement of standard hospital equipment, as well as international training and exchange programmes for healthcare professionals were difficult due to the exchange rate.

“I pray that the conversations by the committee members, who should see themselves as critical and complementary stakeholders, would bring a lasting solution to incessant industrial unrests that have plagued the Nigerian health sector over times,” she said.

Also, Prof. Abiodun Otegbayo, the Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, (UCH), Ibadan, said that theme of the conference: “Challenges in the Nigerian Healthcare Workforce Recruitment, Enhancement, and Retention”  was quite important to every health institution.

According to Otegbayo, the workforce of any institution is pivotal to the success of such institution.

“If the workforce is understaffed, then, definitely they won’t be able to meet up with the workload amongst others.

“It is, therefore, imperative to ensure that the situations that serve as challenges are addressed and looked into and proffer solutions,” Otegbayo said.

He said that the healthcare professionals on-the-ground were under huge pressure, increasing workloads, rising burnout and fatigue due to workload and bottlenecks in recruitment process.

Also, the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Mr Bode Ladipo, said that on the average 15 people were leaving the employment of UCH weekly, adding that the state service was not exempted.

“Just about a year ago, 534 people were recruited, but as we speak, more than 50 per cent had left. This necessitated another policy of the government, which is ‘Exit Replacement Policy’ in Oyo State,” Ladipo said.

Again, who are you crediting here?

“Also, Mr Busayo Oladejo, the Chairman, IHSAN, Oyo State Branch and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, said that in the face of daunting challenges in the health sector, how do we ensure the required professionals were available and appropriate quantity and quality to ensure the smooth running of the Healthcare system.

Oladejo said that the issue was of great national concern, which informed the choice of the theme of the conference. (NAN)

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Tags: Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria Rosemary Archibong