NewStats: 3,259,195 , 8,169,358 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 08:15 AM 4j2655

The Kwara state government has lamented the inadequate number of medical doctors in the state’s health facilities as a result of brain drain otherwise called ‘Japa’ syndrome.

This was disclosed during the 2025 first quarter inter ministerial press briefing organized by the Ministry of Communication in Ilorin.

Speaking during the event, Executive Secretary of the state Hospital Management Board, Dr. Abdulraheem Abdulmalik, said despite the directive of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on the hiring of doctors, the board has been unable to find eligible personnel to recruit.

“We have approval of His Excellency to recruit doctors but we can’t just find the doctors to recruit. Doctors are hot cakes now. If a doctor resigns in the morning, he will get another job in the afternoon”, he said.

Dr. Abdulmalik, who said the state government presently has only 99 doctors on its payroll, added that the required number is from 180 to 200.

“The three medical doctors that left the service returned after the recent increase in doctors’ salary by the Governor. We actually had 96, but after His Excellency increased the salary, three of them that ‘japa’ came back. So, we have 99 right now. We’re expecting more at the moment because we need about 180 to 200 medical doctors.”

Consequently, the board said it was developing a software application that will give patients, visiting its 45 health facilities, information on the number of doctors available at a particular period of time, to reduce the usual delay in accessing doctors.

He said this will as well avert a situation where sick patients would collapse while waiting to see a doctor at the hospitals.

The executive secretary said rural areas are those places where the challenge was more pronounced, adding that the board was working out remuneration and incentives for doctors to address the situation with resources available.

“The remuneration will be at par with what is obtainable in the western world where most of the doctors were leaving for greener pastures”, he stated.

Dr. Abdulmalik said there is a retention plan by the state government to close the gap on required number of medical doctors in the state, adding that the plan would kick start in four years time.

“On recruitment, we have presented a prerequisite to the Governor on actually harvesting doctors from medical schools. So, the state government sponsors you as a student for maybe a year or two and you pay back by working for the state for those two years in which the state has invested in you.

“That means we will continue to have a cycle of students. So, the state government sponsors you for two or three years and you work for the state government for those number of years before you ‘Japa’. That would mean there is a closing of the gap for medical doctors. This would kick off in about three to four years because we are starting from their Clinical Level, which is 400 Level.

Answering questions on training of nurses and fear that the trained nurses may leave the country for greener pastures, thereafter, Dr. Abdulmalik said, “They will “japa”, regardless, but we are not as desperate for the nurses as we are for doctors because the social circumstances favour nurses staying in the country.

“Most of the nurses are women and their movements depend on where their husbands are stationed. Some do “Japa”, but we are not as desperate for nurses”.

https://dailytrust.com/japa-we-cant-find-doctors-to-recruit-kwara-raises-alarm/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwJ97HJjbGNrAn3sb2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeqJ-6nFvU2TMK7P71QecH1kHl9RUiAaU1T7ArqmY-GZpXmoKBuf4qrUfh_RY_aem_k0EOBfSRVJthoRLK9-4ZMQ

Maxymilliano:


https://dailytrust.com/japa-we-cant-find-doctors-to-recruit-kwara-raises-alarm/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwJ97HJjbGNrAn3sb2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeqJ-6nFvU2TMK7P71QecH1kHl9RUiAaU1T7ArqmY-GZpXmoKBuf4qrUfh_RY_aem_k0EOBfSRVJthoRLK9-4ZMQ

They should start hunting for any PHD holder. Any doctorate degree holder dem catch na straight employment as doctor for kwara hospitals.

Elusive001:



They should start hunting for any PHD holder. Any doctorate dem catch na straight employment as doctor for kwara hospitals.

ClearFlair:

Dey play.

You get doctors to send go kwara?

Maybe the pay is not attractive.

The government should explore the options of engaging native doctors to bridge the shortage

This is what happens when politicians neglect the wellbeing of the people and only think about winning election

They should employ Fulani bandits/herdsmen.

First take care of the student doctors in UITH. Make their working and living quarters liveable (it's currently an eye sore).

Give UITH a facelift. It has a very depressing and dark ambience.

Lastly, stop use.le.ss policemen from extorting young men in Kwara.

Cheers

You sure?!!

Put up a salary of $1500 per month starting, and you will witness a long queue of qualified applicants.


...What are lawmakers doing that they should be earning far more than Doctors and Academics?!!


Una never serious for this country.

lol

Porn i was ing reach 70%
MTN say my data don finish

How can 2 gig finish in 20 mins
MTN ARE THIEVES!!!

This is the painful reality of brain drain. You can’t blame the doctors for seeking better pay and working conditions abroad.
It’s good that the Kwara State government is thinking long-term with sponsorship and retention plans, but we need urgent action too—better incentives, safer work environments, and real career growth at home. Otherwise, even the few left will keep disappearing.

There are still doctors. May be the remuneration is poor

They should recruit skull miners, they’re doctors too

with all the spiritual alfas in ilorin. you guys better upgrade the traditional healers to doctors

Find herbalists oga. Grow naija to grow naira abi how dey take talk am.

This effects of bad leadership

Keep ing tinubu

Maxymilliano:


https://dailytrust.com/japa-we-cant-find-doctors-to-recruit-kwara-raises-alarm/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwJ97HJjbGNrAn3sb2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeqJ-6nFvU2TMK7P71QecH1kHl9RUiAaU1T7ArqmY-GZpXmoKBuf4qrUfh_RY_aem_k0EOBfSRVJthoRLK9-4ZMQ

Una go find Dr's tire...my friend in lasuth is saying u guys are reducing their salary. And u expect them to stay.

Then recruit native doctors

𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑏𝑖 𝑛𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑎𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑚 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑠 ?... 𝑁𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 !!!!.. 𝑁𝑜 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 7:56

Wait a minute.....
With all the Alfa's in Ilorin, what are doctors needed for?

Increase your pay you'll see them

The same APC told Youth and Doctors to go if they want to. What has happened

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrBZ7soT4qo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCO2Tl8CDGU?feature=shared

Cry me a river

Like I said earlier, it is only going to get worse but by all means let's ignore this ongoing crisis and focus on developing primary health care plus other activities that make zero sense.

The fact still remains that no health care provider wishes to remain in this country because wages are terribly poor with absolutely no room for professional growth.

Maxymilliano:


https://dailytrust.com/japa-we-cant-find-doctors-to-recruit-kwara-raises-alarm/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwJ97HJjbGNrAn3sb2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeqJ-6nFvU2TMK7P71QecH1kHl9RUiAaU1T7ArqmY-GZpXmoKBuf4qrUfh_RY_aem_k0EOBfSRVJthoRLK9-4ZMQ

Pay a dr 5m monthly and they would stay

Nigeria needs to build more universities where doctors will be trained in their numbers and increase the salaries of those working in Nigeria