The Lagos State Health Service Commission has said nursing programmes are underfunded.
Speaking at the 14th Annual Health Service Commission Nurses Scientific Commission, Lagos State, Nigeria, held on Tuesday, keynote speaker, Prof. Prisca Adejumo of University of Ibadan, explained that nursing programmes in many nations were suffering from chronic underfunding.
Adejumo who spoke on the theme of the conference, ‘Our nurses, our future,’ added that the poor welfare of nurses was one of the reasons for the migration of nurses from developing nations to developed nations.
“As the world is at risk of a global shortage of nurses, attention must be paid to their welfare. Nursing programmes in many nations are suffering from chronic underfunding. A lot needs to be done in funding nursing citadels of learning.”
She also complained about the poor representation of nurses at the leadership table, saying that a survey of 2,537 nurses and nurse-midwives from 117 countries revealed that only one in 10 (11%) envisioned advancing into nurse administration and leadership roles.
While speaking on nursing and technology, she revealed that the specialties were changing, and the requirements to practice in such specialties were changing.
She listed some Artificial Intelligent nursing robots including Robot Paro, TUG, robot nurse bear, Moxi and advised the nurses to embrace AI in nursing.
While giving her opening remarks, Director of Nursing Service, Lagos State, Mrs Adebukola Cole, said the conference was organised to identify challenges being faced by nursing professionals and proffer solutions.
“This conference is organised not only to update our knowledge but to identify challenges being faced by the profession and proffer possible solutions for our present and future generations in order to achieve patient safety, satisfaction, and positive outcome. The theme, ‘Our nurses, our future,’ will shine the light on nurses and on a brighter future, move nurses from invisible to visible.”
Chairman of the conference, Chairman, Allied Computers, Mr Abiodun Balogun, advised that nurses should be well trained and well paid.
He also suggested that they should embrace information technology to improve their productivity.
Balogun said, “AI is an advanced information technology. Just as they have embraced info tech, nurses should also embrace AI to improve their productivity and effectiveness at getting data.”
Chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses &Midwives, Lagos, Mr Olurotimi Awojide, counseled the nurses to be more dedicated, saying there was a reward for every effort made.
