Nursing professionals have called for improved welfare, increased training opportunities and greater inclusion in health sector decision-making, warning that the shortage of oncology nurses is undermining cancer care in Nigeria.

They made the call in separate interviews with journalists in Abuja on Sunday. 

According to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Nigeria records 102,000 to 127, 763 new cancer cases and approximately 72,000 to 79,542 cancer-related deaths annually.

The professionals noted that the country lacks sufficient specialists to meet the increasing demand for cancer care and added that the migration of trained nurses to other countries further worsens the situation.

Khadijat Musah, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, estimated that Nigeria had about 300 oncology nurses.

Ms Musah expressed concern over the migration of trained nurses and urged the government to address 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 said.

She said only two institutions in Nigeria trained oncology nurses, with each admitting up to 50 candidates, depending on available resources and capacity.

According to her, some universities have introduced postgraduate programmes in oncology nursing, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

“Our voices need to be heard because we are patient advocates. We see them go through the pain,” Ms Musah said.

She said nurses’ close contact with patients gave them first-hand knowledge of the challenges people faced during cancer treatment and recovery.

Also speaking, oncology nurse Ann Joachim described the shortage of trained specialists as a major challenge.

“We are short-staffed. We have a limited number of trained oncology nurses.

“You find out that a nurse will sacrifice her time, her talent, her skill just to acquire the speciality she needs as an oncology nurse,” Ms Joachim said.

She said oncology nurses are not adequately rewarded for their specialised skills and also face occupational risks associated with cancer care.

Despite the challenges, Ms Joachim encouraged young 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 said.

Fatima Adam, vice-president of the Oncology Nursing Society of Nigeria, underscored the critical role oncology nurses play in cancer treatment.

Ms Adam, who works at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, said no multidisciplinary cancer care team was complete without 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 said.

She also advocated early exposure of nursing students to oncology to encourage more young professionals to specialise in the field.

“Catch them young,” Ms Adam added.

Similarly, Nanre Mampak, an oncology nurse and educator with more than 20 years of experience, called for nurses to be included in decisions affecting healthcare delivery.

“People who know nothing about nurses go to make decisions and ask nurses to implement.

“My advice for the Nigerian government is that let us make nurses fully inclusive in decision-making in the health sector,” she said. 

(NAN)