The Chairperson of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Plateau State, Briskila Dabit on Wednesday said the state needed additional 1,000 Nurses in the health sector for effectiveness.

Ms. Dabit said this while addressing reporters in Jos as part of celebration of the 2020 International year of Nurses and Midwives.

She lamented the work pressure on nurses in the state.

“As we speak, more than 500 nurses have retired within eight years without any replacement in Plateau, which has put much pressure on the few of us in the health sector,” Ms. Dabit said. “The situation in the Local Government Areas is a sorry one because the last time nurses and midwives were employed was in 2006, a pointer to the pitiable state of the health sector.”

“While we appreciate the effort of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State for the approval given to Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Hospitals Management Board to employ health workers, the delay in effecting the directive is worrisome,” she said.

The NANNM boss also said that as the world strived hard toward achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, it needed additional nine million nurses to complement those already working and the ones that would retire soon.

“As such we call on the government at all levels to give a waiver to health institutions to replace any health worker particularly nurses that retire in order to mitigate the gross shortage of this workforce in the health sector,” Ms. Dabit said.

Dabit also revealed that the Nursing report by World Health Organisation (2020), said that nurses and midwives were critical to deliver on the promise of “leaving no one behind,” and the global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“No global health agenda can be realised without the concerted and sustained efforts to maximise the contributions of the nursing/midwifery workforce,” she said.

As part of its activities lined up for the celebration, NANNM will on Thursday hold its Public Lecture at Eliel Centre, Rayfield, Jos.