For better working conditions, Nigerian doctors move to other African nations, according to NARD

Earlier today, NARD said that starting on Wednesday, it would picket the Federal Ministry of Health and all federal and state tertiary health facilities countrywide.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which is organising a national demonstration, bemoans the huge migration of its physicians “every day” to other African nations in search of “better” infrastructure and working circumstances.

Earlier today, NARD said that starting on Wednesday, it would picket the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of the Federal Civil Service, and all federal and state tertiary health facilities countrywide.

The action is the most recent in a series of steps taken by resident doctors to hasten the execution of a prior agreement with the Federal Government, which also calls for the early payment of the 2023 MRTF, the prompt release of the one-for-one replacement circular, and the payment of skipping arrears.

To this purpose, NARD issued a “total and indefinite strike action” declaration on July 25.

In an interview with Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, NARD President Dr. Emeka Orji stated that working conditions in the Nigerian health sector had gotten so bad that resident doctors were leaving for other nations.

Orji claims that during the past few years, the number of resident doctors in Nigeria has decreased from 16,000 to between 12,000 and 15,000, with 1,000 to 2,000 of them dying each year from the japa disease.

When asked about some of these doctors’ chosen destinations, Orji responded, “And some of them are even travelling to African countries. The fact that doctors are leaving Nigeria for other African nations is indicative of how awful the country’s healthcare system has gotten.

He said, “There, the infrastructure is better, and the working circumstances are better. And to Africa, we are meant to be giants.