(DDM) – The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Dr. Babatunde Afolabi, has urged the Nigerian government at all levels to take urgent and sustainable action to tackle the worsening Japa syndrome crippling the country’s health sector.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Dr. Afolabi made this passionate appeal while delivering a keynote address as Chairman at the 2025 Osun State Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week public lecture held in Osogbo.
The lecture was themed: “The Impact of Japa Syndrome on Health Care Delivery: The Role of Government in Stemming This Tide.”
Afolabi described the exodus of medical professionals as a “national emergency,” warning that the trend has reached an alarming scale.
He revealed that in the last five years alone, over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have relocated abroad, alongside thousands of nurses, pharmacists, and other allied health workers.
According to him, this massive brain drain has worsened the doctor-to-patient ratio to a disturbing 1:4,000, a figure far below the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended standard of 1:1,000.
He added that rural areas face even harsher realities, with ratios soaring to as high as 1:9,000, leaving many communities without adequate medical coverage.
Dr. Afolabi attributed the push factors behind the migration to poor working conditions, low remuneration, limited career advancement, and insecurity.
He also identified pull factors such as better welfare, modern facilities, and structured systems in developed countries as key attractions for professionals leaving Nigeria.
The CMD lamented that this exodus has led to increased workload for the few medical workers remaining in the country.
He warned that the resultant effect is declining service quality, burnout, and eroding public confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Afolabi also called on journalists to use their platforms to spotlight the human cost of Japa, the untold stories of patients, families, and communities suffering from the manpower deficit.
He further urged the media to hold policymakers accountable, amplify success stories within the sector, and inspire hope through responsible reporting.
While acknowledging Governor Ademola Adeleke’s continued support for UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Afolabi stressed that sustained investment, policy reforms, and cross-sectoral collaboration remain vital to reviving Nigeria’s health system.
In his closing remarks, he called for a united effort between government, civil society, and the media to “rebuild hope and restore dignity to the medical profession.”
Also present at the event were the Executive Secretary of the Osun State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Rasaq Akintunde, who served as guest lecturer, and Dr. Calitus Akinleye, a consultant epidemiologist.
In a related development, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, lauded the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for establishing a ₦10 billion endowment fund aimed at improving healthcare delivery and manpower development.
Speaking at UPTH’s 45th anniversary celebration themed “Repositioning for Excellent Healthcare Delivery, Medical Innovations and Manpower Development,” Pate, represented by Dr. Abisola Adegoke, said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system.
He described the endowment fund as a bold symbol of innovation, sustainability, and leadership, urging other tertiary hospitals nationwide to emulate UPTH’s model.
According to him, “The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare fully supports this initiative.
It is not just a financial mechanism but a reflection of the institution’s commitment to excellence and innovation in healthcare.”
Analysts say the twin challenges of brain drain and underfunding continue to threaten Nigeria’s medical infrastructure, a crisis experts like Dr. Afolabi believe can only be solved through consistent policy action, improved welfare, and strategic retention programs.