Nigerian doctors in US list
conditions to relocate home.
Nigerian medical practitioners based in the United States of
America under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian
Physicians in the Americas on Tuesday said they were
determined to relocate to the country if the Federal
Government could provide incentives for them.
The doctors, led by their National President, Nkem
Chukwumerije, stated this in Abuja when their executive
officers paid a courtesy call on the Chairman, Senate
Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuosho, at the
National Assembly complex.
The ANPA members said they were interested in returning
home to help their fatherland but lamented the government
had not done enough to encourage them.
Chukwumerije listed poor remuneration, inadequate modern
equipment and a lack of low interest loans for those who
want to set up medical facilities in Nigeria as some of the
impediments to their homecoming.
He said, “The major barrier preventing the relocation of
medical doctors back to Nigeria is incentive. Every human
character and behaviour is linked to incentives. Some of the
incentives to get back the medical doctors abroad to Nigeria
are not in place.
“Most of us here love our country and our hearts are in
Nigeria but we just have to be physically at another country.
We are very passionate about improving health care system
here but the incentives, especially remuneration sends people
out and force them to remain abroad.
“Another thing is a lack of proper equipment to work with.
Most people abroad honestly want to come back. But to
physically relocate, we will need the right financial incentives.
“The Federal Government should provide low interest loans for
health care workers so that medical practitioners abroad could
bring their money and have access to low interest loans.”
Source: the punch