The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, has called on Nigerian health professionals to resist the allure of migrating abroad (Japa syndrome) in search of better working conditions.
He emphasised the federal government’s dedication to fostering collaboration with the healthcare workforce to tackle the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and related deaths in Nigeria.
Salako made the appeal in Abuja during the 8th Annual Abuja Cardiovascular Symposium, organized by Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital.
Themed ‘Sudden Cardiac Death’, the event brought together over 800 healthcare professionals from Nigeria and beyond, including top specialists, doctors, nurses, and other medical experts, to discuss and strategize comprehensive solutions to the issue.
The event highlighted critical advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sudden cardiac death, focusing on life-saving interventions such as ECG interpretation, Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).
Salako, who also represented the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, also implored healthcare workers to intensify their resolve towards Nigerian healthcare and to resist the pull of japa syndrome in collaboration with the drive of the current administration.
He, however, commended the Cardiocare Hospitals Abuja and Iseko Iseko, Group Managing Director (GMD) of Limi Hospital Group for organizing the annual event that has been instrumental in reversing medical tourism and improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
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Prof. Augustine Odili, President of the Nigeria Cardiac Society delivered the 2nd annual LM Iseko Memorial lecture keynote address, where he made a passionate appeal for the inclusion of basic life support skills at multiple education levels to improve sudden death management.
The Group Medical Director of the Limi Hospital Group, Iseko Iseko, praised the participants and the government for their contributions to the event’s success while highlighting that the symposium’s outcomes would significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism while enhancing healthcare delivery and outcomes for Nigerians.
According to him, Cardiocare Multispecialty Hospital has demonstrated its commitment to cardiovascular excellence in Nigeria not only by offering advanced medical and surgical cardiac care services but also by leading the way in supplementary postgraduate cardiovascular education for healthcare workers.
Critical topics were extensively taught
at the symposium through practical sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and in-depth discussions.