Taiwo Bankole
The Federal Government has appealed to the 619 graduates of the School of Psychiatric Nursing, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, to abandon the idea of leaving the country in search of greener pastures.
The advice given on Thursday, came against the backdrop of Nigeria’s struggle with the mass exodus of healthcare workers, a phenomenon now known as Japa syndrome.
The Director of Nursing, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dame Francisca Okafor, made the plea during the seventh combined convocation for Post-Basic Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing programme of the institution, which covered 14 sets from 2009/2010 to 2022/2023.
She said given the prevailing economic hardship which can trigger depression and add to substance abuse among others, there is no doubt that the mental illness burden is increasing daily in the country.
The director explained that there is a need for nursing professionals who have been specially trained in the area of mental health to be considerate enough to stay behind to offer the requisite care to Nigerians.
Okafor said, “While I am rejoicing with you as you have toiled selflessly and burned the midnight candles to achieve this great academic feat and being found worthy of being a graduate of psychiatric nursing, I want to urge you to stay back to care for our people.
“Look at the young ones indulging in drug and substance abuse, who will take care of them if you indulge in Japa, even though, there is a need to improve our working environment. We must always remember that Nigeria remains our home and no sacrifice can be too much to render in our service to the nation.”
She explained further that if, however, the nurses insisted on leaving the country, they must follow the right channels, saying that there are many Nigerian nurses abroad doing all sorts of menial jobs despite their academic qualifications.
According to her, they were more interested in leaving the country rather than going through the right channels.
The Provost and Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Afis Agboola, in his convocation message, urged the graduating nurses to remain worthy ambassadors of the institution.
While congratulating the graduating students, she urged them to deploy their expertise to make a positive difference by giving adequate mental health care to the people.
The Provost assured them of automatic employment, emphasising the institution’s need to retain the best talent it produced.
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