Nigerian nurses are protesting a new policy that would prevent them from working overseas for two years after completing their training. The policy aims to stop the exodus of medical professionals from the continent, but nurses are pushing back, citing poor working conditions. Hundreds of nurses have demonstrated in favor of the policy’s repeal at the health regulator’s offices in Lagos and Abuja.
Meanwhile, in the UK, hospitals are facing a severe staffing crisis, with patients dying alone due to a shortage of nurses. A recent report by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found that only one-third of nursing shifts had enough staff, forcing nurses to oversee multiple patients at once. Nurses in the UK have shared heartbreaking stories of being unable to sit with dying patients, leaving them to die alone.
The RCN is calling for urgent investment in the nursing workforce and safety-critical nurse-patient ratios to be enshrined in law. The situation highlights the global shortage of nurses and the need for governments to prioritize their welfare and working conditions. The Nigerian government’s policy may exacerbate the crisis, driving more nurses to seek better opportunities abroad.
The protest by Nigerian nurses comes as the UK faces a significant shortage of nurses, with many turning to overseas recruitment to fill the gap. A report by the UK Nurses and Midwifery Council (NMC) found that the number of registered nurses with Nigerian training in the UK increased substantially by 625% in the six months before September 2023.
The shortage of nurses in the UK has resulted in dangerous staffing levels, with nurses forced to care for too many patients at once. The RCN has warned that this puts patients at risk and demoralizes nursing staff. The situation is dire, with nurses reporting that they are unable to provide adequate care, leading to increases in hospital admissions and deaths.
The Nigerian government’s policy may worsen the crisis, as nurses seek better opportunities abroad. The protest by Nigerian nurses highlights the need for governments to prioritize the welfare and working conditions of nurses, both at home and abroad. The global shortage of nurses requires a coordinated effort to address the root causes of the crisis, including poor working conditions, inadequate staffing levels, and lack of investment in the nursing workforce.
