Japa syndrome a global phenomenon, says UK-based Nigerian nurse

A Nigerian nurse, Ijeoma Ezinne, who has worked in the UK for 21 years, has said that health workers who are departing Nigeria in large numbers should not be blamed.

She added that no one can stop people from travelling elsewhere in search of better opportunities.

Aside from appealing that the perennial complaints of poor remuneration and long working hours be addressed, Ezinne disclosed that it is time investors in the private sector collaborated with the states and Federal Government to curb the Japa syndrome.

The brain drain phenomenon, which has been rechristened ‘Japa’, has seen a generation of young doctors, health workers, tech entrepreneurs and a number of professionals dump Nigeria in search of the golden fleece abroad.

Ezinne made the plea in an exclusive interview on Saturday at the medical outreach and empowerment programme organised for widows and the vulnerable in society by the Face of Joy Charity Foundation in Abuja.

She said, “Brain has always been something associated with third world countries whereby you go to some communities and discover there was no doctor or nurses around. However, the government can seek to give incentives and empower those still working hard in the health sector to discourage the trend. The issue of remunerations and long working hours have to be addressed. These are things we need to have a round table discussion with the government, including in the private sector.

“The private sector is the heart of any nation. They need to take the forefront by building hospitals, recruiting and empowering capable hands to run them. Nigeria has to move away from that third-world country mindset. Japa syndrome is not a new thing. It is a global phenomenon.

“People, including health practitioners, will want to seek greener pastures and go to places where they can be sustained. For instance, I told you earlier that I, just like some others, made up to return to Nigeria. I still believe strongly in this nation.

She narrated that she had left ExxonMobil to train and start working in the UK as a nurse for 21 years before returning to Nigeria. According to her, a number of people have been encouraging her to set up a specialist health facility, which she said is very much in the pipeline.

She added, “As a health practitioner with over 21 years of experience in the United Kingdom, I have seen how illnesses could impact people’s lives negatively. Some of us in Diaspora are open to working with the government to bring about change.”

While highlighting the importance of charity, the philanthropist urged Nigerians to look beyond the current economic hardship and extend a hand of fellowship to the less privileged, saying the act of giving freely comes with a feeling of fulfilment.

Her appeal comes six months after the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Muhammad Pate, lamented that only 55,000 licensed doctors are left in the country to attend to the growing population of patients following the exodus of health professionals to hospitals and health facilities abroad.

Pate, who said the brain drain syndrome has seriously robbed the health sector of its best hands, affirmed that the government is doing its best to expand the training scheme and motivate those who chose to stay back and serve their fatherland.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Liberty House International Faith Ministry, Bishop Paul Nnamdi, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address the problem of food insecurity and the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

The cleric, who appealed in an interview with The PUNCH, lamented that Nigerians are hungry.

He said, “Nigerians are really hungry. I am begging the government to do all within its power to organise food for the people. Something urgently needs to be done. Even if it means encouraging the importation of this food, let it be made available to the people at a lower cost.

“I am sure economists will readily agree with me that when supply exceeds demand, the price will be forced down. If it is possible, this is where the Federal Government should be thinking of subsidising food so that people can eat and be happy. Remember, there is an adage that says a hungry man is an angry man. We don’t want to raise a nation of angry people. That’s the much I can ask of this government.”

Also, a philanthropist, Dr Mariam Ahmed, however, called for restraint, saying the rising cost of food and economic challenges are not limited to Nigerians.

Ahmed also urged well-meaning Nigerians to imbibe the act of charitable works, saying there is joy in giving.

She said, “These challenges are not isolated to certain parts of our country; they are widespread and affect millions of our fellow citizens. But amid these challenges, there lies an opportunity—an opportunity for us to come together and make a difference through charity.

“The government alone cannot address every issue we face. As citizens, we must step up, bridge the gaps, and provide support in areas where it is desperately needed. This is where charity comes in. In a country as diverse and dynamic as Nigeria, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened.

“Many families find it increasingly difficult to meet their basic needs. Now more than ever, charity is needed. Whether it’s through organised initiatives or individual acts of kindness, we can help provide relief to those who are suffering and offer hope to those who feel forgotten.”