Prof Isah Yahaya Adagiri, Chief Medical Director of Kogi State Specialist Hospital, has criticized the state’s lack of medical experts, attributing it to the “Japa syndrome.”
Adagiri, who praised Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for providing the Specialist Hospital administration a standing approval to replace any medical doctor who leaves the service, stated that despite the desire to replace or employ new ones, they were nowhere to be found.
The CMD stated this on the floor of the Kogi State House of Assembly in Lokoja during the 2024 budget defense.
While saying that many doctors were leaving the country in droves in search of brighter pastures, he highlighted that there were other drawbacks as such individuals worked their tails off to earn every Kobo handed to them.
Adagiri stated that he could not contemplate leaving the nation to work overseas since his body would be returned.
He grieved the recent loss of a doctor who departed for Dubai to work, saying that his death could be due to the risks of working in a foreign nation.
He fought for improved pay to end the Japa syndrome, revealing that the hospital constantly worked with the House Committee on Health and Social Services to achieve better welfare packages for doctors.