Japa Syndrome: Ondo Government discloses plan to address acute shortage of health workers
Written by Adewale Adeyemi on February 6, 2023
The Ondo State Government says plans are on to address the acute shortage of health workers within the health system in the state. Francis Faduyile, special adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Health, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure, the state capital.
Mr Faduyile said the migration of health workers from the country was caused by factors beyond the control of the government at all levels. The special adviser observed that this was not the first time “japa” (emigration) syndrome was happening in the country, noting that the country had similar experience from 1985 to 1990.
He, however, blamed it on some factors including devaluation of Naira and the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the weakness and strength of the health sector of countries all over the world.
Premium times reports that Mr Faduyile said the state government was planning to bring back some retirees through a special arrangement that would make up the shortfalls until the system equilibrates.
He lamented that because the sector had been largely depleted, it was difficult to recruit people into the health sector.
