By McSlim Akwanga
The Federal Government says it is intensifying efforts to enhance infrastructure and manpower in the health sector by addressing the impact of massive migration of health workers in the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this known at the 65th Anniversary and Gala Night of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) in Abuja on Thursday.
Alausa, represented by the Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, said the federal government was committed to funding the health sector and creating a conducive workspace for health workers.
He commended the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy for being instrumental in rendering efficient services through practice, training, research, collaborations, advocacies, and policy development.
He called for public private partnership in the health sector to complement federal government’s efforts in building a better health sector for the country.
“Your efforts have significantly contributed to the overall improvement in healthcare, enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals.
“I commend your establishment of the Postgraduate Physiotherapy College (PPC), producing over 70 specialists in various physiotherapy specialties.
“These skilled professionals have augmented the healthcare workforce, complementing government efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
“The federal government is intensifying efforts to enhance infrastructure and manpower in the health sector,” he said
The Keynote Speaker at the occasion, Prof. Sylvester Igaww, appealed to medical practitioners to continue to improve themselves on the new skills that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought into the sector.
Igaww, also the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Coal City University, Enugu, spoke on the theme: “Physiotherapy practice in Nigeria: the Past, Present, and the Way forward”.
He stressed that ‘Japa Syndrome ‘ was inimical to the health sector and hence the need to address this.
Also, the President, NSP, Dr Oyinlola Odusanya, said the society had facilitated the establishment of the Postgraduate Physiotherapy College in Nigeria.
This he said was a body saddled with the responsibility of training specialists with expertise clinical competence to match the demands of its clients in the ever dynamic world.
Odusanya, however, identified challenges faced by the society among which are the devastating effects of brain-drain on the profession.
“More than 65 per cent of Physiotherapists produced in Nigeria practice abroad.
” In the last three years, over 2000 physiotherapists left the shore of our country, with less than 4000 Physiotherapists left in the country to manage over 200 million population of Nigeria.
“This development weakened us as a group and in terms of training, and reduced the number of experienced Physiotherapist to serve our various establishments,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, commended the role of NSP which has been continuously pivotal in promoting the health, well-being, and fitness of Nigerians across the nation.
Dambazau said at this critical time, the nation required collective efforts to enhance medical rehabilitation in primary and other healthcare services.
According to him, NSP has demonstrated leadership by its commitment to prioritising the improvement of health indices in Nigeria through rehabilitation initiatives in line with its vision of providing specialised, contemporary, and exemplary physiotherapy services to the populace.
“This impact has in recent years further spread internationally as evidenced by increasing number of physiotherapists practicing abroad, signifying both a potential for brain gain and a source of foreign exchange remittances from the diaspora towards economic growth of Nigeria.
“The growth of NSP has not occurred without challenges, as is often the case for professional institutions especially in developing countries whereby various interests and policies impact on operations both positively and negatively,” he said.
He, therefore , explained that such an event was essential for addressing critical issues that affect physiotherapy studies and practice in Nigeria.