Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to Nigerian doctors to stay back and join hands with the Tinubu administration in the ongoing efforts to salvage the nation.
The appeal is coming on the backdrop of the rising number of medical doctors leaving Nigeria for juicy jobs outside the country
Shettima cautioned against the continuing migration of Nigerian professionals to other countries of the world, and pleaded the doctors to resist the temptation of absconding and abandoning the country.
He told them that President Bola Tinubu has their interest at heart, adding that, he (Tinubu) ” has a lot of empathy for medical doctors who have chosen to stay back despite juicy offers abroad.
Shettima, speaking when the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) led by Bala Audu, the newly elected president, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, encouraged the doctors not to despair.
He specifically implored them to “remain steadfast” and resist the temptation of offering their services in foreign lands, noting that “in President Tinubu, you have an ally who will stand by you at all times.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has Nigerian doctors at heart. He has a lot of empathy for our medical doctors who have opted to stay put at home, not for lack of offers,”
On the challenges facing them in the country, Shettima commended the giant strides of Nigerian doctors and their sacrifices in the service of the nation, especially in repositioning healthcare delivery.
“Let us stay back and salvage this nation together, this is our country; the greatest black nation on earth, and a promising nation that we need to invest in.
“The NMA is one of the most prestigious, preeminent associations in this country. We must commend you for the sacrifices you are making and for staying put in this nation.
“All hope is not lost because Nigerian doctors are making giant strides, recording milestones in the profession and, most importantly, making tremendous sacrifices to serve this nation.”
He also asked the NMA leadership to encourage young doctors to specialise in key disciplines of medical practice and also check the activities of quacks in the profession.
On his part, the NMA president, said the executive members were at the Presidential Villa to show solidarity to the Tinubu administration, particularly on account of its laudable policies for the health sector.
He stated: “The Nigerian Medical Association has come here today as a partner to your government and a patriotic group of Nigerians dedicated to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this government and to ensure that this government delivers quality healthcare to all Nigerians.”
The NMA president assured that the body “remains patriotic to this nation and will fully support the health policies of your government to drive improvement in quality healthcare delivery and universal access to services to all Nigerians.”
“This committee will work closely with this government, in delivering and implementing the policies of the administration in the healthcare sector. The NMA wants to assure and reassure you that it will play a key role in ensuring stability in the health sector and by extension, stability for this government to deliver on its promises to Nigerians as it has already started doing,” he added.
