The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) Faruk Abubakar says 42,000 nurses have left the country in the last three years.
Faruk’s comment came on the heels of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) protest against the new certification verification guidelines issued by the Council.
But speaking about why the Council issued the guidelines, he said the development is in line with international best practices, adding that so many nurses in the country have left in the past few years.
“Let me make it clear today, in the last three years over 42,000 nurses left this country and the country needs them,” he said on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
“Government policies especially the present Renew Hope Agenda, a lot of policies are coming onboard, the Federal Ministry of Health came up with so many policies where Nigerian healthcare system will be improved.”
He maintained: “Now if we allow every Nigerian to leave as they are graduates, who are going to handle our healthcare services? Who is going to provide these services? We are Nigerians and it is our responsibility to these services.
“So we are not against anybody travelling but Nigerians must be served and must be provided with this quality healthcare since we are producing the quality and best nurses that are working anywhere in the world.”
According to him, the Council has gotten several complaints about the relocation of nurses from the country. But he said such relocations should be done rightly.
