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<p>By Akor philomena omaufedo-ojo,</p><div class="2NeGcaAg" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>A mother rushes her feverish child into a government hospital in the early hours of the morning, hoping to be among the first patients attended to that day. Hours later, the waiting room is still packed. The only doctor on duty moves from one patient to another without a moment&#8217;s rest, while anxious families continue to wait. For many Nigerians, this is no longer imagination. It is becoming reality. As thousands of doctors leave the country every year in search of better opportunities abroad, the burden falls on the few who remain, while ordinary Nigerians pay the ultimate price.</p>
<p>Nigeria&#8217;s healthcare system is under immense strain. With only about 55,000 practising doctors serving a population of more than 220 million people, the country has an estimated doctor-to-population ratio of 1:4,000. In some states, where doctors are even fewer, the ratio is estimated to range between 1:5,000 and 1:9,000. This falls far below the globally recommended benchmark of one doctor to about 600 people, highlighting the severity of the crisis.</p>
<p>The growing shortage of doctors did not happen overnight. For years, Nigerian healthcare professionals have continued to migrate to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia in search of better salaries, safer working conditions, modern medical facilities and greater opportunities for career development. Poor funding of the health sector, insecurity, and inadequate welfare packages have further accelerated this exodus.</p><div class="oR7o0z7j" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>What makes this crisis particularly alarming is that it extends beyond the healthcare sector. A nation without enough doctors can not build a productive workforce or achieve sustainable development. When citizens are unable to access timely medical care, preventable illnesses become life-threatening, workers spend more days away from their jobs, businesses suffer reduced productivity, and the country&#8217;s economy bears the burden.</p>
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<p>The consequences are borne not only by doctors but by millions of Nigerians. Patients spend long hours waiting for medical attention, emergency cases face dangerous delays, rural communities are left with little or no access to qualified doctors, and the few healthcare professionals who remain are forced to work under immense pressure. In many hospitals, exhaustion has become part of the job, increasing the risk of burnout,medical errors, and avoidable deaths.</p>
<p>The irony is difficult to ignore. Nigeria invests heavily in training medical doctors through public universities and teaching hospitals, yet many of these professionals eventually use their skills to strengthen the healthcare systems of other countries. While destination countries benefit from Nigeria&#8217;s investment in human capital, the communities that helped educate these doctors are left struggling with overcrowded hospitals, understaffed clinics, and inadequate medical care.</p>
<p>Medical experts have repeatedly warned that Nigeria can not continue on this path. The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Afekhide Ernest Omoti has stressed the need for improved welfare, better hospital facilities, and stronger policies to retain healthcare workers. Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that an adequate, well-trained, and motivated health workforce is essential for achieving universal health coverage and improving public health outcomes.</p>
<p>Reversing the trend requires more than appeals to patriotism. Government at all levels must invest in modern hospitals, review the remuneration of healthcare workers, expand medical schools and residency training programmes, improve security, and create incentives that encourage doctors to remain in the country. Equally important is ensuring that rural communities receive their fair share of healthcare personnel through targeted incentive schemes and better infrastructure.<br />
Some argue that restricting doctors from leaving the country would solve the crisis. However, migration itself is not the real problem; the conditions that push healthcare professionals away are. Every Nigerian has the right to seek better opportunities, but no nation should make staying behind feel like a sacrifice. Rather than blaming doctors for leaving, policymakers must create an environment where choosing to remain in Nigeria is both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.</p>
<p>Nigeria&#8217;s healthcare manpower crisis is no longer just a concern for medical professionals. It is a national emergency that affects every citizen. With only about 55,000 practising doctors serving a population of more than 220 million people, the country continues to face an alarming doctor-to-population ratio of approximately 1:4,000, while some regions experience ratios as high as 1:9,000. This falls far below the globally recommended benchmark of one doctor to about 600 people and the World Health Organization&#8217;s recommended minimum health workforce density for achieving universal health coverage. Behind every statistic is a human life, a child waiting for treatment, a mother hoping for a safe delivery, an accident victim racing against time,or an elderly patient seeking relief from illness. If urgent and sustained action is not taken, the question may no longer be why doctors are leaving Nigeria, but who will be left to save lives?</p>
<p>Akor philomena omaufedo-ojo, a 200 level student of the Department of Development and Strategic Communication.</p>
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