MEDICAL MIGRATIONS, COVID-19, AND THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS IN NIGERIA BEYOND THE PANDEMIC

Abstract

Medical migrations from Nigeria occasioned by the need for medical professionals abroad due to the loss of frontline workers to the Covid-19 pandemic brings to the fore again some pertinent issues. These issues include the challenges of brain drain, global treasure hunt, imminent African health disaster(s), opportunities or threats to mention a few. No doubt one of the most hit sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic is the health sector. Frontline workers helplessly watched their patients die just as a lot of them paid the supreme price in the line of duty. As the situation eased, there arose the need for some badly affected countries to replace some of their lost medical practitioners. This replacement becomes necessary on the one hand to manage the re-surging waves of the pandemic and on the other hand to re-stabilize their medical sector for a sustainable health industry. In response, the spate of medical migrations from Nigeria is on the increase. This paper attempts an evaluation of the implications of these migrations on the immediate management of the Covid-19 pandemic and the long-term effect(s) on the Nigerian health system. I try to look beyond the basic submissions that each individual has the right to seek better opportunities anywhere since successive administrations have relegated the health sector. I contend that Africa (specifically Nigeria) faces a challenge of survival if our best brains do not find the continent a place worthy of their sacrifices.