Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has decried the brain drain syndrome in the health sector, saying it is negatively affecting the country.
Governor Diri also appealed to doctors to consider their oath to save lives and show more commitment to duty.
Speaking in Yenagoa during the Service of Songs in honour of late Mrs Victoria Ali, elder sister of his wife, Dr. Gloria Diri, the governor expressed sadness over the cause of her death, which he said would have been prevented if medical personnel handled her case diligently.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as lamenting that in this age and time someone could die of appendicitis.
He said as part of efforts to improve the health sector in the state, his administration has resuscitated the diagnostic centre, stressing that diagnosis was one of the major problems in the health sector and if tackled will significantly contribute to saving lives.
The Bayelsa helmsman said the government was sending doctors to Germany to study how to use a newly procured Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine for the state’s diagnostic centre.
He also disclosed that the state will soon take delivery of a donated surgery equipment that performs operations without using knives.
He urged Bayelsans to take their health seriously and go for regular health checks to prevent avoidable deaths.
His words: “The death of Mrs Ali is a reminder that the brain drain syndrome in our health sector is a serious challenge that is negatively affecting our country. Doctors usually take the oath to save lives and I appeal to them to show more commitment to their duty.
“Aunty Vicky, as we fondly called her, is one very quiet woman. When I was told about her death, it was a very rude shock to me.
“Let me advise our medical professionals. There are deaths that are avoidable and this is one. At this age and time, people should not die of appendicitis.
“Well, nobody knows how we will die because I did not envisage that Aunty Vicky will die in this manner. This tells us that we need to take our health seriously. Try and have regular medical checks.
“It is for this reason we have resuscitated the diagnostic centre. The biggest problem we have is diagnosis. I want Bayelsa to be a medical tourism hub. So we must get our acts right. As a government, we are very concerned and we must sit up.
“My thoughts are with our brother, the husband of the deceased. We pray that God will continue to comfort you.”
In a tribute, Dr. Gloria Diri, wife of the governor and younger sister of the deceased, described Mrs Ali as a mother, sister and friend, saying she will be missed by the family and all who came in contact with her.
She said she was her role model, who played a huge role in her life and that her demise had created a huge vacuum in the family.
She, however, noted that the family will take solace in the fact that she lived a worthy life and will be resting in a better place.
