The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has decried the low investment in and poor welfare plans for nurses and midwives across the country.
It revealed that due to sundry reasons, over 5,000 nurses have left the country for developed countries in three years (between 2019 to 2022), while over 5,000 lost their lives to COVID-19 while in the line of duty in 2020.
Therefore, the association urged the government on the need to protect, support, and invest in the nursing profession, which will enable the country to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
NANNM President, Comrade Michael Nnachi, stated this in Abuja, during a briefing to commemorate this year’s International Nurses Week and Scientific Conference, with the theme: Nurses: A voice to lead: invest in nursing and respect rights to secure global health.
He said: “Despite the commitment and sacrifices demonstrated by nurses and midwives, they are yet to be adequately compensated, recognized, valued, and respected, to be given the pride of place in the society.
“Frontline health workers are most vulnerable to risk. Worthy of note is that over 5,000 Nurses and Midwives lost their lives during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.”
