The Ogun State National Association of Nurses and Midwives has lamented deficit of nurses in the following the ongoing relocation from Nigeria, often referred to as ‘japa’ syndrome.
Nurse Adejoke Bello, the newly elected chairman of the association on Friday stated this at the state’s inauguration of exco members held at the Nurses’s house in Abeokuta.
While urging nurses in the state to support and collaborate with the new excos administration, Bello urged the federal government to hire additional nurses to relieve their strain.

“ I mean, well for my nurses. I want the best for them. Their welfareism is very important. And we are going to work very well with other team to achieve greatness for the nurses.
“ We nurses are facing brain drain. You know, majority of the nurses have travelled abroad, so it’s seriously affecting us. The little ones, the few ones that remains at home, we are working so hard to the extent that some of us are falling sick. So brain drain is really affecting nursing in local states.
“Well, I want to appreciate our governor, Dapo Abiodun for everything he has done for the nurses in Ogun state, I’m requesting for more from him. We need the support. He is just like a father figure to us and we wish him all the best. And we plead with the federal government, the president to please employ more nurses for us. We need nurses. It’s biting so hard on the remaining ones that here.
Roseline Funmilayo, the immediate past chairperson of the association, maintained that despite efforts by the state government to hire more nurses, the number of people relocating rises daily.

Roseline Funmilayo, immediate past chairperson of the association
She however went on to say that, staff promotions are also necessary because the state is currently lagging in that area.
“ We have been communicating with the government and they also know that their is some shortage of man power in all the three things tear of government that we have in Ogun state and we believe that very soon will listen to us.
“ We thank him for the employment that are just been done at the local government service commission but you know we always ask for more even at that the number is not enough.
She urged the newly elected chairman to be prepared for obstacles and to always choose communication over striking.

“ My message to the newly elected chairman is to be ready to face alot of challenges, challenges will come but the moment you have a solid solution it will over take that event then another thing is that unionism this days as to do with alot of dialogue, where there are issues you have to ensure that you dialogue with the people in authority because strike is the last option but I believe that since we have a government that has a listening ears there will not be issue of too much strike but they should at all ties be ready to work and see to the to the welfare of nurse’s in the state,” she said.