Posted on: Mon 11-04-2022

The Chairman, Lagos/Ogun branch of the West African Postgraduate College of Nurses and Midwives, Mrs Esther Olowookere, has lamented the impact of COVID-19 and brain drain on the nursing profession in the country.

Olowookere said this on the sidelines of the 21st scientific conference and annual general meeting of the College held in Lagos, with the theme, ‘Nursing in Pandemic Times: Challenges and Implications.’

She said, “Nurses are still facing a lot of challenges as a result of the pandemic. We are not being remunerated in commensurate to what we are offering. There is also a mass exodus of nurses, thereby making the work to be overwhelming for those that are still in the system.

“Nurses are facing a lot of risks and the hazard allowance we get is just a paltry amount. A nurse that leaves home to go and take care of the patient is not even sure of coming back home because we are always the first contact with the COVID-19 patients.”

Olowookere said the challenges facing the country’s health sector before the pandemic were still there, saying the country had not learnt from the pandemic.

“It seems we’ve not learnt any lesson from the pandemic, the conditions of the country remain the same. The challenges in the health sector remain the same, the government seems to be paying lip service to peoples’ lives,” she added.

The Chairman of the Nigerian chapter of the College, Mrs Funmi Osobu-Popoola, in her welcome address said the past two editions of the scientific conference were held virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the theme of the event was chosen to address the fear nurses and other health professionals have while discharging their duties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging diseases.

The event also witnessed the recognition award of excellence as well as the acceptance ceremony for new Fellows.

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