National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives says over 11, 000 nurses migrated from Nigeria to developed countries in the past three years.
The association said this development occurred between 2019 and 2022.
NANNM President, Michael Nnachi, disclosed this in Abuja at a press conference to commemorate this year’s International Nurses Week.
Nnachi blamed the brain drain on the “terrible working conditions and tremendous suffering” of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NANNM boss added that over 5,000 nurses and midwives across the world lost their lives during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
He further blamed the dearth of nurses in Nigeria on mass migration, saying in order to address the brain drain, it had become imperative to invest in nursing workforce and consider special salary package for nurses in Nigeria.
Nnachi urged the Federal Ministry of Health to take urgent steps to curb the migration of nurses and midwives in order to reduce the negative effects of brain drain on the health sector.