Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has cried out over the mass exodus of Nurses from Nigeria into developed countries.
According to him, the increasing relocation of nurses outside the country is now worrisome. The CMD lamented that he signs about four resignation letters daily for nurses, expressing the need to urgently address the trend.
He revealed this while speaking at the opening of the fifth Anniversary and Scientific Conference of the Retired Nurse Administrators Healthcare Initiative, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja.
He said: “Every day, I receive and sign between three to four resignation letters from nurses. As we speak, the nursing workforce in our facility has been reduced by 35 percent. Though we have received approval from Mr. Governor to employ their replacements, it is something that should be addressed.”
The CMD added that the LASUTH management is now making plans to engage some of the retired but not tired nurses on a contract basis to ensure patients do not suffer because of the mass exodus of nurses in the facility.
He noted that the brain drain in the health sector is essentially an economic decision to seek greener pastures, but said all hands must be on deck to make working here encouraging. He however applauded the nurses still in service,
