health workersTo put an end to mass immigration, sometimes called the “Japa syndrome,” the Nigerian federal government has announced that the Renewed Hope Medic City mass housing project, which would house 10,000 units, will be launched. The initiative will be targeted towards the country’s health professionals.
Advertisements
The declaration was made during a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday that brought together stakeholders, agents of professional health associations and unions, and the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN).
Proponents of the government supported program claim that healthcare professionals nationwide will reap the benefits.
The initiative’s chairman, Dr. Aliyu Oroji Wammako, made a statement stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the project’s patron and that Minister Alhaji Ahmed Dangiwa is its driver.
The alarming trend of medical experts fleeing the country, colloquially known as the “Japa syndrome,” was his main point in explaining the program’s purpose. According to Wammako, the healthcare system in Nigeria is facing a crucial turning point.
Advertisements
A disturbing number of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and others, have left the country in search of better employment possibilities in recent years.
Our healthcare system is being weakened and the nation is being deprived of crucial expertise that is needed to develop a better and more resilient future because of this brain drain,” he said.
We are honoring individuals who devote their life to the well-being of others through this housing project, which is more than just that.
Advertisements
“Every citizen, regardless of profession, has the opportunity to thrive,” he stated, adding that this program embodies President Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope.
In his remarks, Prince Akintoye Adeoye, president and chairman of REDAN, hailed the project as a historic endeavor to house healthcare workers in dignity and affordability across the country.
“Given their status as a top contributor to the National Housing Fund, medical workers should be given special consideration in housing delivery initiatives. This will help keep talented people from leaving the field and stem the tide of professional migration overseas, also known as the Japa syndrome or brain drain,” he stated.
Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Sadiq, who is in charge of the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative for Healthcare Workers at the national level, has stated that the program will be demand-driven in order to guarantee efficient allocation and planning.
We must keep an eye on the implementation to make sure the structural requirements are being followed. A fair and open process will be followed to distribute these homes to those who qualify.
Furthermore, it was reported that approximately 15,000 nurses departed from Nigeria in the year 2023. Additionally, 5,208 pharmacists have departed the nation in pursuit of better opportunities, according to the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
A few commercial organizations charge mortgage rates of up to 30% per annum, which is five times higher, he noted.