At least 2,000 physios have left Nigeria, says the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy.

The president of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Oyinlola Odusanya, stated this on Thursday at the 65th Anniversary and Gala Night of the NSP in Abuja.

He identified challenges society faces, including the devastating effects of brain drain on the profession.

“Over 65 per cent of physiotherapists produced in Nigeria practise abroad. In the last three years, over 2,000 physiotherapists left the shore of our country, with less than 4,000 physiotherapists left in the country to manage over 200 million population.

“This development weakened us as a group and in terms of training and reduced the number of experienced physiotherapists to serve our various establishments,” he said. 

Mr Odusanya said the society facilitated the establishment of the Postgraduate Physiotherapy College in Nigeria.

He said this was a body saddled with the responsibility of training specialists with expertise and clinical competence to match the demands of its clients in the ever-dynamic world.

But, the federal government claims that efforts are being intensified to enhance infrastructure and manpower in the health sector.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, said the government was committed to funding the health sector while creating a conducive workspace for health workers.

He commended the NSP for being instrumental in rendering efficient services through practice, training, research, collaborations, advocacies, and policy development.

He called for public-private partnership in the health sector to complement the federal government’s efforts in building a better health sector for the country.

(NAN)