Nursing professionals have referred to as for improved welfare, elevated coaching alternatives and higher inclusion in well being sector decision-making, warning that the scarcity of oncology nurses is undermining cancer care in Nigeria.
They made name in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Nigeria data 102,000 to 127, 763 new cancer circumstances and roughly 72,000 to 79,542 cancer associated deaths yearly.
The professionals famous that the nation lacked enough specialists to fulfill the rising demand for cancer care, added that the migration of educated nurses to different international locations additional worsen the state of affairs.
Prof. Khadijat Musah, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, estimated that Nigeria had about 300 oncology nurses.
Musah expressed concern over the migration of educated nurses and urged the federal government to deal with their welfare.
“I am using this opportunity to thank the leadership of Nigeria and everybody in government. But they should try and look into the welfare of oncology nurses,” she mentioned.
She mentioned solely two establishments in Nigeria educated oncology nurses, with every admitting as much as 50 candidates relying on out there assets and capability.
According to her, some universities have launched postgraduate programmes in oncology nursing, together with masters and doctoral levels.
“Our voices need to be heard because we are patient advocates. We see them go through the pain,” Musah mentioned.
She mentioned nurses’ shut contact with sufferers gave them first-hand data of the challenges individuals confronted throughout cancer therapy and restoration.
Also talking, an oncology nurse, Ann Joachim, described the scarcity of educated specialists as a serious problem.
“We are short-staffed. We have restricted quantity of educated oncology nurses.
“You find out that a nurse will sacrifice her time, her talent, her skill just to acquire the specialty she needs as an oncology nurse,” Joachim mentioned.
She mentioned oncology nurses weren’t adequately rewarded for his or her specialised expertise and in addition confronted occupational dangers related to cancer care.
In spite of the challenges, Joachim inspired younger nurses to specialise in oncology.
“I will advise them to come into the profession. If not for anything, for the love, for the compassion, for the ability to participate in curtailing this disease called cancer,” she mentioned.
Fatima Adam, Vice-President of the Oncology Nursing Society of Nigeria, underscored the essential function oncology nurses performed in cancer therapy.
Adam, who works on the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, mentioned no multidisciplinary cancer care crew was full with out an oncology nurse.
“In cancer care today, we talk about the multidisciplinary team (MDT), which is never complete without an oncology nurse, who is always at the bedside of the patient 24/7,” she mentioned.
She additionally advocated early publicity of nursing college students to oncology to encourage extra younger professionals to specialise in the sphere.
“Catch them young,” Adam mentioned.
Similarly, Nanre Mampak, an oncology nurse and educator with greater than 20 years of expertise, referred to as for nurses to be included in choices affecting healthcare delivery.
“People who know nothing about nurses go to take choices and ask nurses to implement.
“My advice for Nigerian government is that let us make nurses fully inclusive in decision-making in the health sector,” she mentioned. (NAN)
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