The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives(NANNM ) said more than 75,000 nurses and midwives have left the country in search of lush pastures in five years. NANNM also lamented the deteriorating security situation in the country, particularly the increase in cases of member kidnapping for ransom and violence against its members while performing their duties in the workplace.
The association’s president, Michael Nnachi, said this on Friday at a presentation. The presentation happened during this year’s International Nursing Week, theme ‘Our Nurses, Our Future‘.
According to the President of NANNM-
“International Nurses Day is important in the development of nursing. It serves as a medium where Nurses all over the world deliberate on issues affecting or preventing the achievement of the optimum standard in the profession.
“As a result of poor wages and lack of decent work environments, over 75,000 Nurses and Midwives have migrated from Nigeria within a period of five years.
“The shortage of nurses and midwives, particularly in specific areas of specialization and geographic regions, is a pressing issue. This scarcity, coupled with escalating attrition rates and an ongoing chronic shortage of nursing personnel in the country, leads to increased workloads on nurses without proportional compensation. As a result, nurses face heightened health hazards and the quality of healthcare delivery is compromised. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure a sustainable and effective healthcare system.”
The Vice President of NANNM, Israel Blessing while speaking at the event stated that –
“The 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery report puts the midwives shortage in Nigeria at about 30,000 which is six per 10,000 people. To close the gap by 2030, about 70,000 midwives posts are needed but with current estimates, only 40,000 will be created by 2030. This shortage is particularly acute in northern Nigeria where essential needs for maternal and reproductive health care are unmet.”
Also, the Secretary-General and Registrar of NANNM, Faruk Abubakar, spoke at the event, in his words-
“The nursing workforce is the world’s largest and biggest distinct profession in the healthcare industry. It is also germane in the delivery of the promise for health for all”.
cc: Punch Ng
