Int’l Nurses Day: Obaseki pledges sustained investment in nursing education, seeks efforts to address shortage

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will sustain investment in nursing education, ensuring that the state’s newly upgraded College of Nursing Sciences grooms medical professionals to sustain ongoing reforms in the healthcare system.

Obaseki, who gave the assurance in commemoration of the International Nurses Day marked every May 12, called for concerted efforts among stakeholders to address the global shortage of nurses.

The governor, while describing as apt this year’s theme, ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and Respect Rights to Secure Global Health,’ said his government is pursuing a holistic plan to develop human capacity and improve the welfare of those that support the healthcare system.

Hailing nurses across the globe for the extra care and long hours they invest in taking care of patients and saving lives, Obaseki assured that the state will continue to prioritise the wellbeing of nurses and other caregivers in the state, ensuring better packages and working conditions to guarantee that they meet the needs of their patients and adequately complement government efforts at improving access to quality and affordable healthcare services to Edo people.

He noted, “We want to use the opportunity of this year’s International Nurses Day to celebrate and commend our nurses and other healthcare givers for their role in providing essential services to patients and assisting with the efficient management of healthcare centres.”

Obaseki added, “The International Nurses Day provides an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to protecting, supporting and investing in the nursing profession, rallying global stakeholders to intensify efforts to strengthen health systems, ensuring that the welfare and wellbeing of those that support these systems are guaranteed.

“We must now begin to explore better opportunities to enhance investment in nursing education and address shortage of nursing professionals which are essential in strengthening the nursing workforce so as to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, improve primary healthcare delivery and achieve universal health coverage.”

He further stated, “As a government, we have taken critical steps to support the nursing profession, including ensuring better working conditions, appropriate education and upskilling opportunities for the health givers, and will sustain investment in capacity building through the state-owned College of Nursing Sciences.”