“Investing in Nursing Vital for Achieving Universal Health Coverage,” Says Nurse Andre Gitembagara

Nurse Andre Gitembagara, President of the African International Council of Nursing, emphasised the importance of investing in nursing as a crucial means of accelerating universal health coverage (UHC). Gitembagara voiced his concerns about the shortage of nurses in Lagos, Nigeria, and across Africa, highlighting a significant gap between the number of nurses required and the current supply.

Nurse Gitembagara argued that since nurses provide approximately 50% of healthcare services, their scarcity or shortage poses a serious threat to achieving UHC. He urged African leaders to prioritise nursing and make necessary investments in the profession to bridge this gap.

He also highlighted the deficiency of nurses in top managerial positions where critical decisions are made. Nurse Gitembagara stressed the urgent need for more comprehensive training and retraining of nurses to enable them to effectively represent nursing interests at the decision-making level.

Nurse Michael Nnachi, President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), echoed these sentiments, emphasising the essential role of nurses in the healthcare system. He called for nurses to be appointed to key positions, including board memberships, to motivate and empower the nursing profession further.Nurse Nnachi also highlighted the challenges faced by nursing and midwifery in Nigeria, such as brain drain and low remuneration.

He urged the government to provide the necessary tools and enhanced remuneration to support nurses in delivering quality healthcare.Additionally, Nurse Olurotimi Awojide, Chairman of NANNM in Lagos State, emphasized the critical importance of investment in nursing for quality healthcare delivery.

He called on the Lagos State Government to sponsor nurses for training and conferences, both locally and internationally, to address the global shortage of nurses.Awojide noted that the high demand for nurses worldwide has depleted the nursing workforce in Nigeria.

The shortage has led to a nurse-to-patient ratio far above the World Health Organization’s recommendations, challenging quality healthcare delivery.He also warned that the nursing shortage in Nigeria could worsen without intervention, jeopardising the ability to provide quality healthcare in hospitals.