The senator representing Ondo South, Prof Dayo Faduyile says he is optimistic that the brain drain of some of Nigeria’s best in almost all key sectors to overseas countries can be halted If Government can create a better enabling environment and provide the right tools for the professionals to do their job.
The professor of pathology and Forensic medicine made this remark during an interview with the media shortly after a goodwill message at the 16th Annual and General scientific meeting of the International Academy of pathology held in Lekki, Lagos.
Professor Faduyile noted that the jappa syndrome goes beyond the health sector but has become a systemic issue affecting Nigeria, adding that as a matter of urgency professionals should be able to take good care of themselves through better remuneration and provision of security should be addressed.
Senator Faduyile laments that Nigeria has just 150 pathologists to take care of 200 million people ” To retain the few ones that are still hanging on, we need to encourage them because pathologists are very important for overall health care management of our people ”
He adviced pathologists to come together and see how they can improve innovation so as to be at par with global standards expressing his confidence that the “Future of pathology in West Africa is bright and we are positive that such interactions such as this meeting will help to improve on the health management of our people”
In his goodwill message, professor Faduyile said pathologists should change their tactics If they are to be taken serious by those in positions of authority. In his words, “under two months at the senate, I discovered that we professionals price ourselves too high, they don’t believe in us, we talk too much English, too much theory, Let me tell you, perception is stronger than reality”
He said it is important for pathologists to look at their limitations, their laws and improve on them where necessary if the profession will begin to do much better, “If you can diagnose one cancer for a big man, it’s good enough but we have hundreds of cancer cases that somebody is giving them concoctions and telling stories and they belief such people more than us”
The theme of the meeting is : Future — proofing pathology in West Africa: Integrating Quality, Innovation and Regional synergy.
The meeting gives priority attention to see how West Africa can build a pathology system that remains effective and competitive against the background of new technology, changing disease patterns and increased healthcare demands.
