Employ health technologists, halt emigration of professionals, expert enjoins FG, state govts

Federal and state governments have been advised to, as a matter of urgency, embark on massive employment of graduates of colleges of health education and technology as part of measures to curtail the mass emigration (japa) of trained health personnel to western countries in search of greener pastures.

The call was made by the Chief Medical Director of Babcock Teaching Hospital, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, a Professor of Pathology and Public Health, Mandong Barnabas Mafala, during the 1st Convocation Lecture of De Porter College of Health Technology, Oru-Ijebu.

Delivering a paper entitled ‘Re-imaging College of Health Technology: A Pivot for Improving Health Care System in Nigeria’, Professor Mafala noted that the employment of graduates of colleges of health technology would provide personnel for the Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) in the country under the management of local government authorities.

He also admonished the three tiers of government to resuscitate the use of sanitary inspectors as it was done in the early ’60s, saying that this would help in improving health care education, lead to the provision of safe drinking water as well as promote healthy environment.

Prof. Mafala noted that the colleges of health technology were established to bridge the gap in the provision of healthcare personnel and to bring healthcare closer to the people in the grassroots.

In his speech at the lecture, the provost of the college, Dr Oluwaseyi Adeware, commended the guest lecturer for sharing his wealth of experience with the institution.

He assured parents and students of De Potter College of Health Technology of the commitment of the management of the college to ensure it competes with its contemporaries, not only in the country, but also internationally, through the provision of cutting-edge medical apparatuses for practicals.

The provost disclosed that the institution was graduating about 694 graduates, and thanked the staff of the college for their steadfastness and commitment to the growth of the college.

He also pledged that staff welfare would be prioritised under his leadership.