The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has made an appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to appoint nurses into ministerial positions, as personal assistants, and as special assistants within his government.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the purported negligence of nurses in President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial selections, the association noted its disappointment with the absence of any nurse on the nominee list, considering the crucial role nurses play in the healthcare sector.
The Chairman of NANNM’s FCT Chapter, Deborah Yusuf, presented this plea during a conversation with journalists on the sidelines of the commencement of the 2023 annual FCT Nurses’ Week/Scientific Workshop. The event, themed “Our Nurses of the Future,” was held in Abuja yesterday.
Yusuf stressed that nurses were seemingly marginalized, and she questioned whether no qualified nurses were available to represent the profession within the president’s administration.
“We find ourselves discontented with this state of affairs and humbly request President Tinubu to address this matter.”
“We have a considerable number of highly qualified nurses who possess enduring capabilities; the government should ensure impartiality in its actions. All other professional sectors have representation in the nominations, but nurses are absent.”
Expanding on her statement, Deborah emphasized that nurses serve as the foundation of any healthcare system, as they extend expert care, empathy, and guidance to patients and their families within and beyond hospital confines.
She highlighted the fact that, during challenging periods, nurses have been at the forefront, courageously confronting pandemics and the healthcare system’s challenges in Nigeria.
“Our system is still grappling with the ‘Japa’ phenomenon. Nurses confront issues such as inadequate staffing of healthcare personnel in medical institutions, emotional fatigue, substandard employee welfare, and safety concerns.”
“Nevertheless, our commitment and determination remain unwavering. We fearlessly tackle high risks and professional hazards to shield lives and safeguard communities.”
In earlier comments, the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, emphasized that while nurse migration could offer certain advantages in terms of foreign remittance, the drawbacks surpass the benefits. He elaborated that source countries’ educational systems train nurses who ultimately do not serve the nations in need of their services.
Dr. Abubakar stressed the importance of the government adopting effective strategies, backed by sound policies and implementation, to prevent factors that induce the migration of Nigerian nurses to developed nations.
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