Doctors’ Exodus: TETFund Boss Advocates More Investment In Medical Training

The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund), Sonny Echono, has mentioned Nigeria shouldn’t fear about what many name the japa syndrome, insisting that the nation ought to intensify funding to provide extra medical and well being personnel for export.

Echono, who spoke on Friday on the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA) in Bauchi State whereas commissioning 13 TETFund initiatives, mentioned the worth of exported well being manpower is increased than that of pure sources exported in crude type.

He mentioned the initiatives replicate the Federal Government’s dedication to increasing Nigeria’s capability for world-class medical training and producing the well being professionals wanted to enhance healthcare supply.

Echono counseled the college’s governing council, Senate, administration and workers for his or her contributions to the establishment’s speedy improvement since its institution in 2021.

According to him, FUHSA’s progress demonstrates what purposeful funding, strategic planning and nationwide dedication can obtain in specialised medical training.

Echono mentioned TETFund had supplied devoted funding for the college’s infrastructure, tutorial improvement, analysis services and institutional progress.

He mentioned, “I’m one of those who hold the view that we should not worry about what many call the japa syndrome. What we need to do is to intensify our investment, as we invest to produce more medical and health personnel, some will go out of this country as part of our exports, and I can assure you the value of those exports are higher than the natural resources that we are exporting in crude form.”

Echono added that Nigerian medical professionals had been extremely valued internationally and will contribute to nationwide improvement by way of remittances, data switch and eventual return to the nation.

He added that establishments that utilised their allocations successfully and accomplished initiatives on schedule deserved extra help.

He listed the commissioned services to incorporate trendy laboratories, lecture theatres, scholar hostels, analysis centres and different crucial infrastructure.

Echono mentioned the services would supply studying environments for future docs, biomedical scientists, nurses, pharmacists, public well being specialists and different well being professionals.

He recalled that the Federal Government determined in 2021 to ascertain six specialised federal medical coaching establishments, one in every geopolitical zone, to deal with shortages of healthcare professionals.

According to him, the initiative was conceived following the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity to strengthen Nigeria’s medical analysis capability and preparedness for future well being emergencies.

Echono additionally disclosed that TETFund’s board had endorsed and beneficial contracts for the institution of eight medical simulation centres nationwide to the Federal Executive Council.

He mentioned FUHSA was among the many beneficiary establishments, including that the initiatives had been anticipated to start in 2026, with tools set up deliberate for 2027.

The govt secretary counseled the Bauchi State Government and residents of Azare for supporting the institution and improvement of the college.

He recalled that the state’s cooperation had facilitated the method of securing an appropriate location for the establishment.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUHSA, Prof. Bala Audu, mentioned the college had relied closely on TETFund for infrastructure and tools since its institution.

He described the commissioned Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences constructing as one of many college’s main infrastructure initiatives.

He mentioned the ability housed 5 departments, lecture rooms, seminar rooms, laboratories, tutorial places of work and a lecture theatre.

The vice-chancellor mentioned the college additionally required extra interventions to develop its Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Sciences to increase medical coaching.

He mentioned the request was mandatory in view of the Federal Government’s coverage to extend the nation’s capability to coach well being professionals.

He mentioned extra services would allow the college to extend its manufacturing of medical personnel and contribute extra successfully to addressing the nation’s healthcare workforce scarcity.

He mentioned, “The investment that the Federal Government has made in this institution and indeed all the specialised Federal Universities of Health Sciences is to produce the desired manpower for health.

“We know this is on record, not just in this country, but internationally, that the workforce produced for health by this country for this country is utilised by every country in this world because we service many other countries.”