Amanze Chinonye
The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Mohammed Usman Suleiman, has raised alarm over what he described as a growing national crisis following the death of 10 resident doctors in less than five months, Prime Business Africa reports.
In a strongly worded statement titled “When Is Too Much Really Too Much?”, Suleiman expressed anger, fear and frustration over what he called an alarming trend of deaths, migration and worsening working conditions within Nigeria’s health sector.
According to him, three resident doctors died within the last month alone: Dr. Salome Oboyi, a Senior Registrar in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH) Jos; Dr. Jamila Umar Danhassan, a Registrar in Community Medicine at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH); and Dr. Akinjobi Carrington, a House Officer at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelTheir deaths bring to 10 the number of resident doctors who have died in the past four and a half months, he said.
Suleiman also disclosed that a resident doctor recently tested positive for Lassa fever but later recovered, while another is currently battling for her life in Enugu following a road traffic accident.
Of the approximately 9,000 resident doctors at the federal level and another 1,000 at state-owned institutions, he noted that 10 deaths within five months represent a disturbing trend in an already overstretched workforce.
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Nigeria currently has between 25,000 and 30,000 actively practising doctors serving a population of over 200 million people, far below global recommendations. The doctor-to-patient ratio in the country is estimated to be close to 1:10,000, compared to the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of between 1:600 and 1:1,000.
Beyond mortality, Suleiman pointed to worsening brain drain within the profession. Over the past decade, more than 10,000 resident doctors have reportedly emigrated in search of better opportunities. In 2024 alone, he said, over 4,600 doctors left Nigeria a figure he suggested may exceed the number of new medical graduates produced in the same year.
He further revealed that new recruitment into residency training has dropped by more than 40 per cent in recent years, while attrition rates continue to rise. The imbalance in the training pipeline, he warned, has resulted in more Senior Registrars than Registrars and, in some cases, more Senior Registrars than House Officers nationwide.
Suleiman attributed the growing crisis to multiple factors, including excessive workload, poor remuneration, outstanding salary arrears, limited career progression opportunities, job dissatisfaction, security challenges and the broader epidemiological burden facing the country.
“Thirty thousand doctors are doing the job that should be done by 300,000 doctors,” he stated, warning that continued neglect could push the health sector into deeper decline.
He questioned whether the deaths of healthcare workers should not constitute a national emergency and called for urgent attention from both government and the public.
“When doctors die, it is a source of worry and panic,” he said, adding that the loss of 10 caregivers in such a short period represents not just a professional tragedy but a systemic failure.
The NARD president urged authorities to address the structural challenges confronting resident doctors to prevent further loss of lives and stem the tide of migration that continues to weaken Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
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