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NMA raises alarm on doctors brain drain in health sector
Nasiru Yusuf
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kano State Chapter, has advised the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to address the worsening brain drain of medical doctors in Nigeria through reduction of examination fees.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Chairman of the chapter, Dr Usman Ali gave the advice at the opening of this Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the association in Kano.
He advised that relevant authorities, such as the Federal Ministry of Health and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria should do everything within their power to minimize the brain drain by reducing examination fees at all levels.
“We advise the relevant authorities the Federal ministry of health, national postgraduate medical college of Nigeria to do all it could to reduce the current worsening brain drain in the country by bringing down examination fees at all levels,” he said.
Dr Ali further reminded the NMA members on the reported cases of monkey pox and the need to ensure necessary precautionary measures as WHO declared it global health emergency.
He stated: “I will like to use this medium to remind us that the monkey pox has also been reported in travelers from Nigeria to other parts of the world, as WHO declares Monkey pox as a global health emergency. We should ensure preventive measures.”
The Chairman also called on the Kano State Government to release the residency training allowances to doctors that are preparing for the forthcoming medical examinations.
According to the Chairman, the theme for this year’s AGM dwells on enhancing financial strength of their members considering the uncertainties, adding that “ the theme of the AGM is Financial Intelligence; A Gateway to Financial Independence. The choice of the theme is appropriate at this time full of uncertainties. This is followed with some scientific session.”
He said his tenure as the NMA Cahirman had consolidated on the success of his predecessors toward improving the welfare of their members in the State.
Describing his tenure in the last two years, the Chairman stated that: “We evolved novel ideas to improve the welfare of our doctors. We formed in addition to the existing ones, a revolving funds committee thereby giving a sense of belonging and responsibility to a wider scope of members spread across the length and breadth of Kano State. These committees have worked tireless to change the phase of the Association positively.”
Dr Ali who commended members of the association for their support and cooperation in leading the affairs of the NMA asserted that five of their members passed on during the period.
“I wish to at this junction express gratitude to your contributions as members of NMA Kano Branch. We have worked tirelessly to run the affairs of NMA Kano we built on the solid foundation of our predecessors and maintained constitutional and traditional obligations of the NMA to the glory of God Almighty for the grace to paddle the ship of the Association in the right direction.
“During this time however, we lost some of our colleagues – Dr. Abdulhamid Isah Dutse, Dr. Abdulmalik Abdulmumin, Dr. Nasiru Isma’il, Dr. Zulkiflu Ismail and Dr. Rabiu Alhassan. May their souls res in Jannatul Firdausi.”
The Chairman further clarified that NMA would not participate in the nationwide proposed protest by the NIgeria Labour Congress (NLC) but would support its affiliates that are affected by the lingering strike in the NIgeria’s public universities.
“We have three of our affiliates that are part of the university system. We have the Association of Medical Doctors in the Academia, those that are teaching clinical students and Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria as well as doctors that work in the University Health Services.
“We have been supporting them in one way or the other and we will continue to support them until the issue is resolved,” he noted.
The AGM, According to Dr Ali, commences on Monday and end on 30th July with election and swearing-in ceremony of new leadership of the NMA in the State.
We Won’t Participate In NLC Protest
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kano State chapter, has stated that it would not participate in the proposed nationwide protest by the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) slated for Tuesday and Wednesday to pressurize the government to accede to the demand of the university lecturers.
The chairman of the chapter, Dr Usman Ali, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the association in Kano on Monday.
Usman Ali said although they are not happy with the industrial action in the universities that affect their affiliates in the academia NMA does not have plans to join the protest.
“We have three of our affiliates that are part of the university system. We have the Association of Medical Doctors in the Academia, those that are teaching clinical students, and the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria as well as doctors that work in the University Health Services.
“have been supporting them in one way or the other and we will continue to support them until the issue is resolved,” he noted.
He further called on the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to address the worsening brain drain of medical doctors in Nigeria.
Dr Ali advised that the relevant authorities such as the Federal Ministry of Health and National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria do everything within their power to minimize the brain drain by reducing examination fees at all levels.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has emerged as a beacon of hope for graduates left stranded due to the previous administration’s negligence regarding academic certificates.
His determination to rectify these injustices has culminated in decisive actions to secure the future of Kano’s youth. Ibrahim Adam, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, shared these developments with the media.
On December 9, 2024, Governor Yusuf traveled to Cyprus with a mission to obtain the overdue academic certificates for Kano students affected by the prior administration’s failure to meet its educational financial obligations.
During a critical meeting with the management of Near East University, the governor focused on facilitating the release of certificates for students who graduated between 2015 and 2019, particularly in essential fields like Medicine and Nursing.
This was confirmed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor’s spokesperson.
In a significant move, Governor Yusuf has settled the outstanding fees of €1.4 million (approximately ₦2.5 billion) owed to the university for 84 medical and2015 to 2019.
This substantial financial commitment honors the dedication and hard work of these graduates, restoring their hopes for a future that had previously been unjustly delayed.
According to Ibrahim Adam, the certificates are set to be handed over to the Kano State Scholarship Board through the Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey, marking a pivotal moment for the affected students.
Governor Yusuf acknowledged the challenges faced by the graduates, declaring, “This situation has been a significant setback for our children, hindering their dreams and aspirations, and it has also affected our state, which is in dire need of their expertise.”
His vision for a prosperous Kano is centered on prioritizing education, ensuring that talented individuals can make valuable contributions to the state’s advancement.
The governor’s proactive measures not only address the systemic issues in the education sector but also inspire renewed hope among Kano’s youth.
By fulfilling his promises, he emphasizes the crucial role of supporting young people in achieving their aspirations, which is vital to the state’s growth.
As this milestone is celebrated, it is evident that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s relentless pursuit of educational reform signals a transformative era for Kano State.
His administration’s unwavering focus on education stands as a vital investment in the futures of individuals and the overall development of the state.
Under his leadership, Kano State is poised to realize its full potential, with eager graduates ready to make impactful contributions to their communities.
Governor Yusuf’s commitment to empowering the youth serves as an enduring reminder that with dedication and decisive action, a brighter future is attainable for all.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been named Governor of the Year 2024 (Good Governance) by Vanguard Newspaper, in recognition of his transformative achievements in the education and healthcare sectors.
The recognition was announced in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Saturday.
Governor Yusuf received the award at a prestigious event held in Lagos, where eminent personalities from across the country were honoured for excellence in leadership and service.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the occasion, Atedo Peterside, emphasized that the selection process was based on merit and verifiable impact, commending the awardees for their outstanding contributions to national development.
Vanguard’s Editor-in-Chief, Eze Anaba, praised Governor Yusuf for setting a high standard in governance through his commitment, innovation, and focus on people-centered policies.
In his remarks, Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to Vanguard for the recognition, dedicating the award to the people of Kano State.
He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to continue investing in sectors that directly impact the lives of citizens, especially education, health, and social welfare.
Other recipients of the Good Governance Award included Governors Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).
Governor Yusuf was accompanied to the ceremony by members of the State Executive Council, lawmakers, special advisers, local government chairmen, and close political allies.
This latest honour comes just four days after he received the Governor of the Year (Education) award from Leadership Newspaper.
The Governor is also scheduled to receive the Africa Good Governance Award from Heritage Times Magazine later this month in Morocco.
By Aminu Abdullahi Ibrahim
Kano State has the highest number of zero-dose immunization cases in Nigeria, with 15 local government areas (LGAs) identified as high-burden, according to Save the Children.
This alarming figure has prompted the launch of targeted interventions under the Boost Project, a collaborative initiative by Save the Children and GSK aimed at reducing the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children in the country.
During an engagement meeting held on Thursday with the Kano State Community of Practice (CoP) on Immunization, stakeholders renewed commitments to tackling the issue.
The project is currently being implemented in Kano and Lagos States, with focused interventions in Ungogo and Gezawa LGAs, which are among the most affected areas in Kano.
Speaking at a media and civil society dialogue, Taiwo Folake, Coordinator of the Boost Project, emphasized the critical role of public engagement in reversing the trend.
She called for increased media support to drive awareness and community action on immunization.
Folake explained that the Boost Project works closely with state and local governments, traditional and religious leaders, and caregivers to ensure that children who have never received routine vaccines are reached, while also reintegrating those who have dropped out of immunization schedules.
Dr. Itunu Dave Agbola, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator of the project, said the initiative is also focused on improving domestic resource mobilization for immunization funding, strengthening governance, and developing a Kano-specific immunization policy to enhance planning, funding allocation, and accountability.
She noted that building trust through community leadership is vital for vaccine acceptance.
Also speaking, Salisu Yusuf, Co-Chair of the Kano CoP on Immunization, reiterated the group’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to reduce the number of high-burden LGAs.
He dismissed widespread misconceptions about vaccine safety, assuring that vaccines are safe and scientifically approved.
Yusuf pledged to intensify sensitization efforts through media outreach, house-to-house campaigns, and community meetings.
The meeting marks a renewed drive to improve immunization coverage in Kano State, with a strong emphasis on reaching vulnerable and underserved communities.
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