The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, has cried out over the mass resignation of Nurses from Nigeria to developed countries.
Truetells Nigeria reports that Fabamwo made this known 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.
Fabamwo described the increasing relocation of nurses outside the country as worrisome, adding that he signs about four resignation letters daily for nurses, expressing the need to urgently address the trend.
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 per cent. 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.