Japa: Don’t leave your countries, college urges West African doctors

The West African College of Physicians has urged doctors in West African countries not to migrate but to stay and contribute their part to the development of the healthcare system.

The outgoing President of the College, Dr Rose Macauley, said this at the opening ceremony of its 48th Annual General Scientific Meeting in Abuja on Monday.

Macauley, who also inducted some doctors as honorary fellows and members of the College, encouraged them to give back to society, especially in the health sector.

“We want you to stay in your country; don’t leave. We want you to contribute your quota to the development of the health sector in West Africa.

“We in the College encourage ourselves to give back to our society and not to leave, as this is the value of the College,” she said.

She urged the government to implement the recommended solutions to set the health sector on the right path.

“We are empowered to give recommendations to various governments and encourage them to implement these. We are urging the government to create an enabling environment, particularly for our young doctors. This is the only way to keep them in the country, allowing them to practise and discourage migration.

“This means addressing their personal needs and ensuring they have enough equipment to enable them to practise their profession,” Macauley said.

The President-elect of the College, Dr Mamadou Mourtalla, emphasised that brain drain in the health sector is a significant issue, and every government needs to act swiftly to address it.

“The African continent has a large number of committed and educated doctors, and it is a serious problem for our young doctors to leave and give their service to countries that did not train them.

“But the best way to retain these young African doctors is to address their challenges so they can give their best,” he said.