By SEGUN GIWA

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State chapter on Tuesday said the state was the most affected by brain drain of medical professionals in the South-West.

The Chairman of the Association in Ondo State, Dr. Stella Adegbehingbe, said doctors and other healthcare professionals had been quitting the state in record numbers due to unfavorable working conditions.

Adegbehingbe stated this at a news conference to herald the Annual General Meeting of the association in Akure.

She lamented that irregular payment of salary had been one of the major factors contributing to the brain drain issue.

“The issue of brain drain is something that is very massive and it is not only in Ondo State.

“Though, Ondo State is the worst in the South-West region and the national and the state body, we have been on it in engaging the government.

“We could recall that at the beginning of my assumption in office there were several strikes because of the issue of salary.

“And that was our appeal at the beginning that government should at least look for a way in addressing the health sector issues because once they start leaving it would be difficult to get them back.

“So, we have been engaging them, we wrote several letters and that have led to the exodus of doctors and they are still leaving and not only doctors alone, health workers generally.

She said the only solution was the regular payment of salary.

“Colleagues are complaining bitterly, every morning I do receive calls on this and after they have made the complaints they will say ‘Chairman I can’t wait again, I’m leaving’ and that is the main cause,” she said

Adegbehingbe said even the state government wanted to employ doctors, but they refused to come because of the irregular payment of salary.

On her achievements as NMA chairman in the state, she said she had been able to assist members on issues of welfare with a functional website to document history of the association.

“This executive has been able to produce a national leader and we have been able to settle the land issue we have with the government.

“We do also visit our elderly health personnel regularly, we give them gifts. We are also reviewing our constitution and hope to ratify it before our AGM,” she said. (NAN)

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