Nigerian nurses call for funding of healthcare system

Nigerian nurses have advanced reasons the Federal Government should increase funding for the healthcare system, especially surgical interventions.

The nurses say increased funding for the sector will address the challenge of out-of-pocket expense and offer opportunity for millions of Nigerians to have their ailment attended to with less hassles.

They spoke at a five-day “train the trainer” workshop organised under the National Surgical, Obstetric, Anaesthesia, and Nursing Plan for Nigeria (NSOANP) in partnership with Smile Train, in Abuja. According to the nurses, the cost of surgical intervention in Nigeria is alarming and places a huge financial burden on the public, forcing many to spend out-of-pocket.

This, they contended, impoverishes Nigerians providing funding for surgical procedures.

Olubunmi Lawal-Aiyedun, the nursing coordinator of NSOANP, said “the cost of surgical interventions is increasing the financial burden and out-of-pocket spending for many Nigerians.