The Federal Government on Thursday, October 10, 2024, launched an initiative to avert the growing exportation of Nigeria’s best brains especially in the health sector.
The initiative is aimed at the repatriation of the expertise of health professionals who have migrated to foreign countries to address the brain drain affecting the sector.
Speaking at the Diaspora Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, said the initiative would leverage skills, experience and lessons learnt to improve the healthcare service delivery of the nation.
Also introducing the Nigerian Health Professionals in Diaspora Plus Engagement Programme, Mr Alausa the knowledge of professionals abroad can be used to improve services in Nigeria.
He added that the initiative has been designed to foster long-term collaboration between Nigerian professionals in their counterparts in the diaspora.
His words, “The continued emigration of our healthcare workforce has posed significant challenges to achieving Universal Health Coverage. However, this initiative provides an opportunity to turn brain drain into brain gain.
“it is part of the government’s four-point Strategic Health Agenda focused on reforming healthcare through improved governance, quality health systems, value chain development, and health security,” he said.
Mr Alausa further called on professionals in the private sector and key international players in the health industry to support the programme for sustainable goals.
The Minister encouraged health professionals abroad to partner with stakeholders in the sector to invest in telemedicine, biomedical technology, and clinical research that could aid in bridging gaps in healthcare delivery.