Get Guardian on Google…Calls for urgent reforms on World Nurses Day
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has described nurses and midwives as the “true backbone” of Nigeria’s healthcare system, saying their sacrifices continue to keep the nation’s health sector functional despite prevailing challenges.
In a statement to mark World Nurses Day, Obi said nurses are not merely participants in healthcare delivery but the “very foundation upon which patient care rests,” stressing that without their service, hospitals would be unable to function effectively, communities would struggle to heal, and lives would be lost unnecessarily.
He reiterated his long-held position that no nation can build a strong and sustainable health system while neglecting those who sustain it, noting that his consistent support for nursing and midwifery institutions across the country stems from the conviction that investing in nurses is directly tied to national survival and development.
According to him, the day serves both as a moment of gratitude and a moment of reflection on the state of the country’s health sector.
“Our nurses continue to work under extremely difficult conditions—overcrowded hospitals, inadequate equipment, poor remuneration structures, and overwhelming patient loads—yet they show up daily with uncommon strength, compassion, and professionalism,” he said.
Obi added that Nigeria is being sustained daily by the silent sacrifices of its nurses, who continue to hold the health system together despite systemic constraints.
He also highlighted the growing international recognition of Nigerian nurses, noting that they continue to distinguish themselves globally in clinical practice, research, and healthcare leadership, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s reputation in the global health community.
Reaffirming his vision for reforms, Obi called for a “New Nigeria” where nurses and other healthcare workers are adequately empowered, properly trained, fairly remunerated, and globally competitive.
“We must build a system that works for those who make the system work. Healthcare workers must be treated as national assets, not afterthoughts,” he said.
He concluded by saluting nurses and midwives across the country, describing them as “those holding Nigeria together,” and wished them a happy World Nurses Day.
“A New Nigeria is possible,” he added.
