Japa Syndrome: Resident doctors warn of worsening exodus

..as Nigeria loses astir fractional its workforce successful a decade

By Ogalah Ibrahim

KATSINA — Nigeria’s nonmigratory doctors person sounded the alarm implicit the escalating migration of aesculapian professionals abroad, informing that the “Japa Syndrome” is leaving hospitals crossed the state critically understaffed.

Speaking astatine the opening of their 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference successful Katsina connected Tuesday, the doctors revealed that the fig of nonmigratory doctors has plummeted from astir 15,000 successful 2014 to astir 8,000 successful 2025.

Incoming President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, attributed the wide exodus to mediocre remuneration, insecurity, and constricted vocation maturation opportunities.

He urged some national and authorities governments to instrumentality factual retention strategies, stressing that the sustainability of Nigeria’s healthcare strategy is present nether terrible threat.

The conference, themed “Mitigating Health Worker Migration done Extra-Remuneration Incentives: A Strategy for Sustainable Development,” drew hundreds of aesculapian professionals from crossed the country.

While Governor Dikko Radda highlighted reforms successful Katsina’s wellness sector—including superior healthcare upgrades and renewable vigor solutions—resident doctors maintained that broader, nationwide interventions were urgently needed.

Nigeria presently ranks among the worst globally successful presumption of doctor-patient ratio. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the state has lone astir 24 doctors per 100,000 people, acold beneath the recommended minimum of 100.

Experts pass that if the encephalon drain continues unchecked, healthcare transportation volition further deteriorate, particularly successful agrarian areas already plagued by mediocre entree to facilities and aesculapian personnel.

The station Japa Syndrome: Resident doctors pass of worsening exodus appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.