CMD laments ‘Japa’ syndrome on Bayelsa medical centre
The "Japa" syndrome is the main issue facing and persisting in the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, according to Chief Medical Director Dr. James Omietimi.
This was revealed by Omietimi during a Monday interview in Yenagoa with the News Agency of Nigeria.
He claims that the Japa syndrome has had a detrimental effect on Nigeria's current healthcare delivery system.
According to NAN, the new chief medical officer had over 25 years of experience as staff member at the hospital prior to his appointment a few months ago.
He outlined some of the difficulties brought about by health professionals leaving the nation in search of greater prospects outside as well as the frequency with which they were being abducted.
"This movement in Japan has been a major challenge, not only for us here in FMC Yenagoa but most of the hospitals across Nigeria as a country.
“Most of our doctors, nurses, pharmacists and lab scientists are leaving Nigeria for greener pastures abroad and at an alarming rate.
"This shift has resulted in a shortage of staff and a significant burden for the remaining medical specialists," he stated.
The Chief Medical Director added that inadequate pay, inadequate security for staff, and inadequate infrastructure development were additional factors.
He advocated raising the retirement age for medical professionals from sixty to sixty-five, or even seventy years, as was the case for judges and lecturers at universities.
Despite a lack of clinical staff, Omietimi assured the public that the hospital remains committed to delivering medical care.
He claimed that the FMC had expanded from its previous state and was still among the greatest hospitals in Bayelsa for providing superior patient care.
He asserts that government hospitals do not always receive the same level of funding as private hospitals.
He asked the Bayelsa government, headed by Governor Douye Diri, to be open to collaborations in the state's medical field, not just when there were serious issues.
