ESUCOM BGS Promises Not to Follow "Japa" Syndrome Rampant Amongst Medical Doctors

The best-graduating student of the Enugu State University College of Medicine, ESUCOM, Dr. Chinenye Agu, has assured that she would not join the bandwagon of Nigerian trained medical doctors who are leaving the shores of Nigeria to practice abroad.

Though, Dr. Agu, who made distinctions in Biochemistry, Community Medicine and Pharmacology to graduate best in her class, disclosed that she would travel abroad for her postgraduate studies, she promised to return to Nigeria to practice and serve her fatherland.

Myschoolnews reports she made the disclosures at the ESUCOM Auditorium during the induction ceremony for the Batch 12 medical graduands of the College.

The 23-year-old from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State said “My take on the ‘japa,’ syndrome is that I would like to travel abroad for my postgraduate studies but I will return to Nigeria to practice and to serve my country.

“My piece of advice for my colleagues leaving Nigeria in drones to practice Medicine abroad is that there are greener pastures everywhere, including Nigeria. So long as you work for it and do the necessary things you are supposed to do, you can find greener pastures in any part of the world. They should not limit themselves to going abroad only, ” she said.

She also said that she was inspired to study Medicine from childhood whenever a medical doctor revived her health if she fell sick.

” I fell sick a lot as a child and my parents would always take me to the hospital. That exposed me to how doctors work. While going to the hospital, I felt very sick but after being discharged, I would have so much energy as if I never felt sick before.

“So, I always wanted to be that kind of person who can change someone’s life like the doctors did to me. That inspired me to study Medicine,” she said.

Earlier, the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi, who inducted 50 graduands of the College into the medical profession, enjoined them to always pay keen attention to the ethics of the profession.

While administering the oath of the profession on the graduands, at the ESUCOM Auditorium,  Dr. Sanusi, challenged the graduands to think of what they can contribute to the growth of the profession.

He equally advised them on the current mass exodus of Nigerian trained medical doctors abroad, adding that the ‘japa’ syndrome would not do them any good because the reality of practice overseas is not as rosy as it is being painted.

Dr. Sanusi enjoined them to adhere strictly to the ethics of the medical profession, stressing that MDCN would  not hesitate to remove names of members who violate the codes of practice of the professional body.