Founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola, SAN has lamented the poor remuneration packages for medical workers in Nigeria, saying that cleaners abroad earn more than them.
Babalola, who called for more funding and investment in the nation’s health sector, said quality healthcare services to the citizens would guarantee a productive economy.
He appealed to government at all levels to place priority on the welfare of doctors by increasing their salaries and emoluments to ward off the temptation of leaving the country to seek for greener pastures.
The elder statesman spoke on Tuesday during the seventh induction ceremony of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) graduates of ABUAD by the registrar of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The ABUAD founder who reiterated the need for quality and affordable education for the country to overcome its numerous challenges, explained that the institution since inception has provided unmatched learning which has earned the institution accolades both home and abroad.
According to him, “ The reason why many Nigerian doctors and Nurses leave this country immediately after completing their training is because the emoluments paid in Naira is much less than what cleaners in hospitals in overseas
“ I appeal to the government to increase the salaries of Doctors and ensure prompt payment.”
The nonagenarian also called on the federal government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to extend the fund disbursement beyond the public universities to private institutions to help in advancing research and innovations in the country.
Speaking , the Registrar of MDCN, Professor Fatima Kyari congratulated the newly inducted doctors for their commitment and hard work in achieving excellence in the profession.
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Kyari who administered oath on the inductees advised them to be professional in discharging their activities in the profession, noting that the council would not hesitate to hand down disciplinary measures on anyone who engaged in unprofessional conduct.
She revealed that under the leadership of minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, the administration is doing everything possible to put in place structures that would impact positively on the nation’s health sector.
Kyari added that as part of measures to improve the health sector and solve the personnel gap, the council would be increasing intakes of medical students by universities in the country.
The Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Smarande Olarinde said the institutions with the seventh cohorts of medical graduates have remained the leading lights in providing quality learning especially in medical programs.
While acknowledging the commitment and investment of the founder in the university, the VC urged the new medical practitioners to distinguish themselves and be good ambassadors of ABUAD.
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