The West African Postgraduate College of Nurses and Midwives (WAPCNM), Nigeria Chapter, has called on the Federal Government to step up efforts to improve the welfare of nurses across the country, saying enhanced support for frontline health workers is crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the 25th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the College in Abuja on Wednesday, the chapter’s chairman, Dr Lilly-West Buloala, said the wellbeing of nurses is directly tied to the quality of care patients receive. The conference, organised under the theme “Healthy Nurses, Healthier Patients: Advancing Employee Assistance Programme and Health Insurance in Nigeria,” highlighted systemic challenges affecting nursing professionals.
“The wellness of the nurse is inseparable from the wellness of the patient,” Buloala said, noting that nurses and midwives consistently serve on the frontline of healthcare delivery yet face emotional exhaustion, occupational stress, inadequate support systems and insufficient financial protection.
She stressed the need for institutionalised, confidential, and stigma-free support programmes—including counselling, mental health services, crisis intervention and workplace assistance—to address what she described as “silent epidemics” of burnout, compassion fatigue, anxiety and depression within the profession.
Buloala also expressed concern over the lack of comprehensive health insurance for nurses, describing it as a “troubling paradox” that those who safeguard public health often lack adequate access to healthcare for themselves and their families. She called for mandatory and accessible health insurance coverage, arguing that it serves not only as a benefit but also as a retention tool in an overstretched workforce.
Marking the College’s 25th anniversary, Buloala said the milestone reflects decades of resilience and commitment to advancing healthcare outcomes across West Africa. She noted that this year’s conference aims to strengthen evidence-based practice, showcase global best practices and develop a strategic roadmap that positions nurse wellness at the centre of national healthcare policy.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the College, Dr Mohammed Yakatun, said the conference would serve as a platform to chart new strategies for advancing the institution’s mandate of promoting excellence in the nursing profession. He highlighted progress made in recent years, including expanded online learning, development of a strategic plan, extension of fellowship programmes to more countries, increasing student enrolment and the acquisition of land in Abuja for an office building. He added that the College’s journal has also transitioned to an online publication.
