The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State Chapter on Thursday said the exodus of doctors from Nigeria had reached an alarming proportion and called for improved health sector funding to discourage it.

The Chairman, Dr Olumuyiwa Odusote, said in Lagos that more than 40,000 of the 75,000 registered Nigerian doctors, were practising abroad while 70 per cent in the country were thinking of picking jobs outside.

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, has again called on expectant mothers in the state, to utilise Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and skilled birth attendants, to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality. She gave the charge on Tuesday at a town hall meeting on reduction of maternal and child mortality, in Epe local government, organized by the State’s Ministry of Health. Mrs. Ambode noted that refusal by expectant mothers for various reasons to access obstetric services, was a major contributor to the maternal mortality rate in the State. According to her, “Almost every minute, somewhere in a corner of the world, a woman dies as a result of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman that dies, about twenty others survive but suffer from serious diseases, disability or physical damage, caused by these complications.

IT is widely acknowledged that a healthy mind is a productive mind. In this connection, the ongoing free medical check-up for civil and public servants in Oyo State is most commendable, especially considering the rampant cases of sudden deaths, most of which result from preventable and manageable ailments.

The exercise is, therefore, essential, as it will culminate in preventing sudden deaths and enhancing healthy living among the workforce in the state. This initiative by the present administration in Oyo State will ultimately help to check ailments such as hypertension, stroke and cardiac arrest among public and civil servants in the state.

A bill for an Act to establish the National Centre for Disease and Control, NCDC, will be passed by the National Assembly before the end of the year, the Chairman, Senate committee on primary health care and communicable diseases, Mao Ohuabunwa, has said.

The senator said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the launch of the NCDC Strategy and Implementation Plan (2017-2021).

Ahead of the orientation exercise for Batch ‘B’ corps members, slated for November 21, 2017, the Osun State Coordinator of the National Youths Service Corps,(NYSC) Mr Emmanuel Attah has called on prospective corps members to be truthful in declaring their health status.

This according to him would help in no small way in giving clear direction to medical personnel on necessary attention individual corps member requires in order to avert emergencies.

Bauchi State Government will spend N16.8 million on the 2017 second round of Maternal Neonatal Child Health Week (MNCH).‎ Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary HealthCare Development Agency (BSPHCDA), Pharmacist Adamu Gamawa disclosed this while briefing journalists in Bauchi Tuesday.

The Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday decried the way Nigerian doctors were leaving the nation in droves saying the government now has an opportunity to bring back the doctors.

Mr. Osinbajo, who spoke at the 60th-anniversary celebration of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, said that the dismal levels of job satisfaction caused by poor healthcare system in Nigeria were responsible for the “alarming” brain drain in the country’s health sector.

The West Africa Polytechnic/Monotechnic Students Union (WAPSU) and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have urged the Federal Government to shut down illegal and unqualified Schools and Colleges of Health Technology.

The unions made the call in a joint statement signed by Mr Salahudeen Lukman, Regional President, WAPSU, and Comrade. Olugbode Hameed, NAPS National Public Relations Officer, on Friday in Abuja.