Eko Hot Blog reports that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has vowed to prioritise stopping the brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector if he is elected president in 2023.
He spoke at Chatham House in London, United Kingdom, on Monday.
In October, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said the menace of brain drain was killing the country’s health sector, revealing that about 10,296 Nigerian doctors now practice in the UK.
The NMA also said 50 doctors leave Nigeria weekly in search of greener pastures in other countries.
On Monday, the APC women leader, Betta Edu, who answered a healthcare-related question on behalf of Tinubu, said the former Lagos governor plans to prioritise the welfare of healthcare workers so that they are discouraged from leaving the country.
Edu said Tinubu’s health sector plan also includes attracting Nigeria’s best brains back into the country.
The APC women leader also disclosed that a Tinubu administration will make healthcare free for pregnant women and children under the age of five years.
“Universal health coverage is top of the list of Asiwaju’s healthcare plan. First, we need to fix the health system and provide the right environment in terms of pay. We also plan to improve the infrastructure to give excellent systems,” she said at the interactive session monitored by Eko Hot Blog.
“We will make the primary health care system work again. There will be free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five.
“He will look into brain drain. He will attract these brains back to specialist hospitals. That way, we can prepare for health emergencies that may happen in the future.”
Edu further revealed that the APC presidential candidate plans to make Nigeria manufacture common drugs that Nigerians need every day.
On Tinubu’s qualifications for the job of president, he revealed how he transformed the economic fortunes of Lagos as the state governor. He said he attracted private investments to Lagos more than any state government.
Therefore, the APC candidate said he has the qualities to lead Nigeria.
“I converted the greatest liability threatening the environment and Lagos existence into asset of magnitude value,” he said.
“I’ve employed various people whether you are from Lagos or not. I’ve encouraged private investments in Lagos more than any part of the country, in fact beating the federal government.
“Wisdom, courage, and can-do attitude of an individual of an individual are self-given and I believe I’ve earned that.”
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