Stakeholders in the nursing profession, including the Publicity Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Ogun State, Olusina Fasina, have emphasised the need for the government to involve nurses directly in policy design to curb excessive workloads, stem brain drain, and improve retention across the health system in the country.
Comrade Fasina noted that many nurses are leaving Nigeria in search of better remuneration, safer working environments, and clearer career progression pathways abroad.
He regretted that nursing professionals are daily battling excessive workloads and poor pay, and that the temptation to seek greener pastures is always huge, thereby shrinking the number of nurses available to care for the people in the country.
Fasina, who spoke on Monday during the maiden nurses’ week organised by Jacaranda Cancer Centre, Abeokuta, urged the government to adopt a deliberate, inclusive, and nurse-centred policy framework to address worsening working conditions for the health practitioners in Nigeria.
He explained that “Nurses are leaving the country for places where there is better remuneration. In less than five years, about 30,000 Nigerian nurses have moved to the United Kingdom alone,” he said.
“Governments at all levels must reduce the so-called push factors such as poor pay, inadequate staffing, and limited professional support, while strengthening “pull factors,” including competitive wages, training opportunities, and workplace appreciation.
“Our trained nurses are being utilised globally, which shows their quality. There is an urgent need to retain them at home so Nigerians can benefit from the care provided by the nurses they have spent so much to train.”
Also speaking was Dr Jeminat Sodimu, the Provost of Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences, who was represented by the Deputy Provost of the College, Dr Omowunmi Awonuga, who also called on the government at all levels to do much more to improve the working conditions of healthcare workers.
Dr Sodimu hailed nurses’ unquantifiable support and contributions to health care delivery, describing them as the backbone of every nation’s strong and responsive health sector.
The Provost also lauded the nurses at the cancer specialist hospital, describing them as heroes for their dedication to providing high-quality care to many patients suffering from various forms of cancer.
Also speaking, the Director of Nursing Services in the state, Dr. Amina Omobolanle, added that cancer treatment remains largely palliative, but new innovations are emerging that could improve outcomes if healthcare workers are adequately prepared and trained.
Omobolanle stated that “Cancer care in Nigeria is still largely palliative, but there are so many innovations now coming in. I encourage nurses to align with international best practices, continually update themselves, and build their capacity to meet the needs of society at large.”
The Head of Nurses at Jacaranda Cancer Centre, Nurse Dolapo Omotolani, appreciated the management of the cancer specialist hospital for deeming it fit to celebrate nurses given their invaluable roles in the healthcare sector.
Omotolani added that the centre has provided a platform for nurses to fight the burden of cancer in the country, pledging that nurses will always be willing to do more to advance cancer care
