Brain Drain: Medical Consultant decries dearth of mentorship in Nigeria health care system

A Medical Consultant, with National Orthopedic Hospital Dala, in Kano Dr. Nurudeen Isah has said brain drain is a threat to mentorship in Nigeria health care system.

Dr. Isah, an Orthopedic and Trauma Surgeon, lamented this on Friday at a scientific conference organized by the Association of Resident Doctors, National Orthopedic Hospital Dala, branch with the theme “mentorship is a vital tool in emerging health care delivery” held on Friday in the state.

“A lot of medical doctors are leaving the country and these are experts that are supposed to mentor younger doctors ,while those available are overworked and the financial benefits are not enough.”

“The available mentors are also struggling with other challenges which needed their attention.”

“That is why now we came up with well-structured mentoring program in order to mentor and encourage available mentors no matter what to guide younger colleagues to become better doctors.”

Read Also: FG vows to discourage physicians’ brain drain from the country

The expert who was also guest speaker at the event called on medical consultants to keep guiding the  younger ones no matter the situation , in order to build good health care delivery in the country.

In his address, the president of the association Dr. Buba Ibrahim Babangida said the rationale behind the conference is to tap from the knowledge of elders towards mentoring a new group of leaders in the health sector, in order to produce leaders and physicians that people can be proud of.

He added that there has been an upsurge in the number of orthopedic cancer cases that are presented to NOHD since the creation of an oncology unit, noting that most cases are presented late and are most beyond curative care.

Read Also: ASUU urges FG to check brain drain affecting universities

“The Nigeria Cancer society has an enormous responsibility in cancer care in Nigeria, orthopedic cancers should be given similar priority as other cancers due to their devastating life changing nature.”

In a remark, the chairman of the organizing committee of the conference, Dr. Aliyu Nura Muhammad urged the participants to make use of the knowledge acquired during the conference.