Lack of incentives causes young surgeons to leave

Accra, Feb 8, GNA - Professor Edward Donkor Yeboah, President of the West African College of Surgeons, says the main reason why young surgeons in West Africa refuse to remain in their countries is the lack of incentives and facilities.

He said though governments in West Africa were providing surgeons with incentives, most of these went to the senior and not the junior staff. Speaking to journalists at the annual dinner dance and re-launch of the endowment fund of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) on Tuesday in Accra, Professor Donkor said the situation had led to a shortage of surgeons within the sub-region.

He said with the number of surgeons in Ghana being about 280, the country was in need of about 600 more surgeons, adding that the situation could improve if governments in West Africa created incentives and facilities that lured young surgeons out of their countries. Professor Yeboah said the government had pledged an undisclosed amount to the endowment fund to be launched in Ghana, adding that the fund was to be used in training surgeons especially the young ones and also provide better facilities for them.

Mr Ribeiro, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, presented a Decanter to WACS as a token of the friendship and cordiality between the two bodies. 08 Feb-06