The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has said that over 11, 000 nurses migrated from Nigeria to developed countries between 2019 and 2022.
The president of the association, Michael Nnachi, said this in Abuja while briefing newsmen as part of activities to commemorate this year’s International Nurses Week.
He said the brain drain was as a result of the “terrible working conditions and tremendous suffering” of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said over 5,000 nurses and midwives worldwide lost their lives during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Nnachi said the country was witnessing shortage of nurses because of mass migration.
He said there was the need to invest in nursing workforce and consider special salary package for nurses to address brain drain.
Nnachi called on the Federal Ministry of Health to regulate the migration of nurses and midwives to reduce the negative effects of brain drain in the country’s health sector.