The Medical Director  and Chief Executive Officer of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Yaba, Dr  Olugbenga Owoeye noted that they increased the number of health workers available in all the schools combine with the hospital as part of the ways to tackle the brain drain in the nation’s health sector.

To this result, the Federal School of Operational Therapy,( FSOT) located in Oshodi Lagos, has admitted about 70 students qualified for the training in the  occupational therapy.

During the 22nd Matriculation Ceremony of FSCOT 2023/2024 session which took place in Lagos,  Dr Olugbenga said based on coordinating order made by the president through the Federal Ministry of Health, as they are adding more efforts to increase the production of these healthcare workers.

Owoeye who is the Founder and  CEO in charge of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital and School of basic Nursing,has said “FSOT is the first of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa sub-region.We’ve been training between 30 and 40 before. But now we just admitted almost 70 students. The nursing and medical council said we should increase admission from 30 to 75 which we are going to do.

“Japa syndrome is affecting all services. We have a lot of doctors who have gone and a lot of nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists and all leaving in droves. What we are doing is we are training and also recruiting more.”

He revealed that the School has been built  for over 20 years ago to help in producing a capacity in the area of occupational therapy for people who have just recovered from their sicknesses, He further explained how the School has been able to produce over 600 qualified graduates.

Owoeye laments over the recent COVID-19, they were been rejected in their numbers in Nigeria as they are now being recruited in countries like the UK. He also said the course was a three year programme and the occupational therapist are responsible for patient’s rehabilitation.

He encourage the new freshers to be obedient and law-abiding.

Mrs Philomena Omonike the School Registrar reveal that many professionals in the school are doing well in their various areas not just in Nigeria but in other countries.

She added that recently the School had offer a diploma that is comparable to a BSC and well recognized in overseas.

She complained that 75 percent of the trainees in the School drift to abroad in search of greener pastures she said plans are in progress to upgrade the School from diploma to another level of education.

The Director of Administration, FNPSY, Mr. Adeyinka Antwi, noted that occupational therapists have engaged in the process of recovering mental illness or issues that has to do with Orthopedic issues,

“We have people who are invalid or who are invalid because of accident or age or anything. Occupational therapy helps to ensure that the average person can live on their terms and they can manage their own life without much assistance.”

He encourage the students to be prayerful and committed in their work and that they should be aware that the School has zero tolerance for elict drug addiction, drug abuse, and for misconduct.

He said the students should live within the rules of the organisation of the school, He also said the students should live and abide in  the rules of the organisation of the School.