The Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Professor Ikpeme Ikpeme, has stated that enhanced working conditions and access to contemporary medical equipment are beginning to reverse the growing 'Japa' trend among Nigerian health professionals. He noted that some doctors are now returning to the country in what is being called 'Japada'. Ikpeme made these remarks during a media briefing held over the weekend, following a facility tour of the hospital. He outlined ongoing efforts to upgrade infrastructure, improve electricity supply, and create a more conducive environment for medical personnel.
Addressing the Root Causes of Migration
The CMD emphasized that health workers naturally migrate to places where welfare, equipment, and work conditions are superior. He stressed that institutions have a responsibility to make the local environment attractive. 'Every professional wants where he or she can earn a good salary, live comfortably, and have the right tools to work with,' he said. According to Ikpeme, improved welfare packages provided by the government and ongoing upgrades within the hospital are beginning to encourage some professionals who had traveled abroad to reconsider returning home.
Infrastructure and Equipment Upgrades
Ikpeme highlighted that the hospital has focused on providing modern equipment and improved workspaces to discourage the migration of skilled personnel overseas. He disclosed that the hospital now maintains 24-hour electricity supply in critical units, including the Intensive Care Unit, labor ward, theatres, and radiology department. Additionally, the hospital recently acquired advanced medical equipment, such as a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine. He noted that the lack of modern facilities had previously pushed many specialists to seek opportunities abroad. Several departments and wards have also undergone renovation and remodeling to improve both staff working conditions and patient care. During the inspection tour, some health workers were visibly impressed by the upgraded facilities, particularly the Intensive Care Unit.
Environmental and Hygiene Measures
Beyond infrastructure, Ikpeme said the hospital management has intensified environmental sanitation measures to tackle mosquito infestation and poor drainage within the facility. The hospital constructed major drainage channels to evacuate flood water, although poor maintenance of drainage systems outside the hospital continues to pose challenges. The management now incorporates mosquito-repellent plants, quarterly fumigation, and fixed protective nets in renovated wards as part of efforts to improve hygiene and reduce insects. Ikpeme maintained that better welfare, improved workspaces, and access to modern medical equipment remain critical to reducing the continued migration of Nigerian health professionals abroad.
