Brain drain: Nursing council to produce 30, 000 nurses

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria said it has developed a strategy to produce 30, 000 nurses by the end of this year.

The registrar of the council, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, made this known yesterday in Abuja during the official commissioning of the new permanent headquarters office complex of the council.

He said it would help close the shortage gap from brain drain, and ensure quality service delivery.

He said the council also targets producing 50, 000 nurses and midwives by the end of 2025.

He said, “Our strategic implementation had produced over 21,700 nurses and midwives as at December 2022 as against 6,700 nurses and midwives produced in 2016 when I assumed duty as a secretary general/ registrar.”

The registrar said the new office complex would shore up accommodation and the work of the council, adding that it has 47 office spaces, a three-suspended floor office building with a basement floor that has offices; two storage rooms, one archive, and offices, among others.

Commissioning the edifice, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, commended the registrar and governing council for the judicious utilisation of public funds, noting that the council had recorded unparalleled milestones in all aspects of its mandate, including developing a new strategic plan, from 2023 to 2027 and setting a full computer based professional examination.

The National President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Comrade Michael Ekuma Nnachi, called for an enhanced salary structure specific to nurses in the country.