‘Africa loses $2 billion yearly to emigration of nurses’

As 75,000 professionals emigrated between 2019 and 2023

Dean, Faculty of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Prisca Adejumo, has revealed that Africa loses $2 billion yearly to emigration by nurses.

Speaking at the fifth nursing induction and award ceremony of the Department of Nursing Science, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, yesterday, she added that 75,000 nurses have left Nigeria between 2019 and 2023.

At the occasion, themed, “Our nurses, our future, caring for nurses strengthening economies,” the don also revealed the ratio of nurses to population in Nigeria as 1 to 1,160 as against the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation of 1 to 300.

According to her, two to three nurses now do the work of eight to ten nurses, decrying the mental agony they are subjected to. As a solution, she suggested: “If we provide a stronger nursing workforce, primary health care will be strong, and it will then be easy to talk about Universal Health Coverage.”

Stating that investment in nursing brings huge Returns on Investment (RoI), Adejumo stressed the need for nurses to be integrated into the development plan and workforce strategy.

She argued that nurses must be paid decent wages, provided a safe work environment and a private-public partnership to promote the growth of the profession in the country.

Provost of the College, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, stated: “I charge you to be worthy ambassadors of the College of Medicine, make integrity your watchword. I urge you to be truthful in the discharge of your duties with other members of the medical team.  Let me remind you to abide at all times with the Code of Ethics of the Professional Conduct of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and uphold the integrity of the Professional Nurse. I am confident that many of you will become great nurses of the highest distinction to the benefit of your alma mater, the nation and the world at large. As we release you into the world, I charge you to make the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, proud, and don’t forget to leave a lasting legacy in your department, which should be emulated by those coming behind you.”