The Chief Medical Director, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Prof. Ebenezer Ajayi, has advised medical and healthcare practitioners who had gone abroad for greener pastures to consider contributing to the development of the Nigerian health sector.
Ajayi reminded them that travelling to foreign lands should not be an excuse for them to forget their birthplace and the need to grow the health sector in Nigeria in the interest of their people back home.
Ajayi spoke to journalists at Ido Ekiti on Sunday on the sidelines of the 2024 Christmas Carol Service and the meritorious awards to deserving staff organised by the tertiary facility.
The CMD, speaking on the health sector workers who had left the shores of the country under the Japa syndrome, said, “They have travelled; we just hope that they will find reasons to either return or contribute to the development of the health sector in Nigeria from wherever they are.
“It is not just only by being physically available; they can also contribute in various other ways from where they are.
“Do not forget your base, do not forget where you were trained, do not forget where your people reside and do not forget your country! That is my message to them.”
He expressed gladness that FETHI had continued to have a series of accomplishments in terms of giving succour to people and improvement in the quality of delivery as he encouraged staff to continue to give their best.
The CMD, who said that the yearly Christmas Carol Service was to appreciate God for sparing the lives of the staff and celebrate achievements in the outgoing year, added that the award ceremony was to recognise staff contributions in a bid to encourage the recipients and others to do more.
He said, “This hospital started about 27 years ago. There are people who started with the hospital and have been committed to offering quality service to the populace using the platform of the FETHI, both clinical and non-clinical members of staff. This year, we are recognising 40 members of staff in this category.
“Also, we are rewarding 18 members of staff in the individuals category for sterling qualities and performances. They are going to be rewarded for acts of brilliance, acts of courage and for having gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that our patients smile and so on and so forth.
“This is the seventh edition of the awards. It is important to recognise the contributions of people. That will, in essence, spur them to do more, encourage our members of staff to do more, to be more committed to the mission, vision, and the core values of the hospital; we have to recognise their contributions.
The Director of Administration, FETHI, Mrs Foluso Adelegan, lauded the CMD for his sterling leadership qualities which she said had brought developments to the tertiary facility.
Adelegan rejoiced with the staff on the occasion of the festive season, urging them to continue to give their best, saying, “This is our Jerusalem.
“We need to be diligent in whatever deliverables we have for the hospital. All of us need to work towards achieving the vision, mission, and the core values of the hospital so that all our clients, our patients can be happy.”
