The House of Representatives Committee on Health has disclosed that, due to a shortage of health workers, at least five wards comprising approximately 150 beds at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, have been forced to close.
Magaji expressed concern about the threat posed to the institution by the brain drain, revealing that a significant number of health workers, particularly nurses and doctors, had left LUTH in pursuit of better opportunities.
Magaji commented, 'We saw significant problems here. Right now, there are about five wards in LUTH, totaling about 150 beds that have been shut down because there are no nurses and doctors to work in those wards. And these are a result of the ‘japa’ syndrome we are having.'
Regarding efforts to address the issue, Magaji assured that the committee, in collaboration with the Federal Government and the teaching hospital, would work towards resolving the challenges. He acknowledged the complexity of the problem, emphasizing both short-term and long-term approaches.
Acknowledging the challenging working conditions for health professionals in the country, Magaji emphasized, 'We will also look at issues of funding. We are also looking at issues of infrastructure because the truth is that many health workers in Nigeria are working under stringent conditions.'
The Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, called for corporate individuals and Nigerians to partner with the institution in delivering quality health care.
