The Nursing and Midwifery Council of the United Kingdom says that a total of 3,782 Nigeria-trained nurses were granted licences to operate in England and Scotland in 2021.
The NMC is responsible for regulating nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and nursing associates in England.
Information from the UK NMC shows that while England gave out a total of 3,725 licences in 2021, Scotland gave 57 licences to Nigeria-trained nurses.
Nigeria was ranked third in 2021 in the list of countries with the highest export of nurses and midwives to England, coming behind Philippines and India.
The country was also ranked fourth in the Wales register coming behind Philippines, India and South Africa.
Nigeria has been consistently losing health workers to other countries with the Medical and Dental Council Association of Nigeria (MDCN) saying during a press briefing on Monday that the country lost over 100 consultants to developed countries.
IThe exodus of health workers made the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to suggest that Nigeria-trained medical and health workers should be made to sign bonds to stop the rising brain drain in the country.
The President, MDCAN, Dr Victor Makanjuola, stated, “The mass exodus of health workers to developed countries has brought disruptions to the healthcare ecosystem in Nigeria. The rejection of bonds by other medical associations such as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors is the best. You cannot keep people in a system where they are not satisfied.
“Creating a work friendly environment is something that can help in stabilising the sector. We also urge the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Council on Establishments to as a matter of urgency put policies in place to arrest the mass exodus of highly skilled medical practitioners to developed countries. Such policies must domesticate the pull factors, while minimising the push factors that encourage emigration of healthcare professionals.”
Copyright PUNCH
