CMD LAMENTS ‘JAPA’ SYNDROME IN MEDICAL CENTRE.

Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa in Bayelsa, Dr James Omietimi has revealed that the major challenge confronting and still lingering in the health facility is the  ‘Japa’ syndrome.

Omietimi disclosed this in an interview with ATN on Monday in Yenagoa. According to him, the Japa syndrome has impacted negatively on our healthcare delivery system in Nigeria today.

ATN reports that the new CMD has worked with the hospital for over 25 years as staff before his appointment a few months ago. He highlighted some of the challenges faced due to the departure of health professionals seeking better opportunities abroad and also the rate at which health professionals were being kidnapped in the country.

The CMD stated also other aspects included poor remuneration and a lack of security for personnel and infrastructure development. He called for the retirement age for medical health workers to increase from 60 to 65, or even 70 years, as it was done in other professions like university lectures and judges.

Omietimi reassured the general public of the hospital’s commitment to providing medical services, in spite shortage of clinical personnel. He urged the Bayelsa Government led by Gov. Douye Diri, to open doors for partnerships in the state’s medical sector and not only when there were major problems.