….as nearly 80% of nurses serve only 49% of the world’s population.
AKOR SYLVESTER, Abuja
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in marking International Nurses Day 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern over the low level of Nurse-to-population ratio in the African region, calling for urgent action to change the narratives.
This is as the World Health body revealed that 42% of nurses in the African region report an intention to emigrate for better welfare.
WHO said the State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025 offers a clear and urgent call to action, noting that, while the global nursing workforce has grown to 29.8 million, up from about 28 million in 2018, the progress conceals dangerous inequities.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 80% of nurses serve only 49% of the world’s population.
The message from Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu in this year’s International Nurses Day, however indicates that: “In the African Region, recent investments in nursing education and training are yielding results. The number of nurses has nearly doubled, from 900 000 in 2018 to 1.7 million in 2023, increasing the nurse-to-population ratio from 8.7 to 14.1 per 1000 000 people. Yet this remains one of the lowest ratios globally, and more than tenfold lower than in high-income countries.
“Nurses account for 66% of the region’s projected shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030. This shortage limits access to essential services, from maternal and child health to chronic disease care, and slows progress towards universal health coverage.
“At the same time, while 43% of our nursing workforce is under the age of 35, many lack access to mentorship or clear career pathways. High-income countries continue to recruit nurses from lower-income settings, with foreign-born nurses comprising nearly a quarter of their nursing workforce.
“In our region, 42% of nurses also report an intention to emigrate, an alarming trend that risks draining critical talent and undermining our most fragile systems.
“Constrained budgets add a further layer of complexity. On average, African countries face a 43% shortfall in health workforce financing. As a result, nearly one in three health workers, mostly nurses and midwives, is unemployed or underemployed”.
The message of WHO, however, expressed cause for hope. “In May 2024, African leaders endorsed the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, setting the stage for long-term progress. Several countries are now generating data, building consensus through national dialogues, and developing Investment Compacts that align with their specific needs. Zimbabwe’s new Investment Compact, for example, is expected to mobilize an additional US$166 million annually over the next three years to strengthen its health workforce”.
Chikwe Ihekweazu’s message further stated the need to do more, noting that the 2025 report outlined a clear path forward such as, expand nursing education, including digital and clinical training, strengthen regulation and introduce advanced practice roles, Improve working conditions, including mental health support and fair pay, close the gender pay gap: still at 7%, despite women comprising 85% of nurses and invest in nursing leadership, including empowered Government Chief Nursing Officers.
According to the acting Regional Director: “Nurses are more than caregivers. They are educators, innovators and frontline responders, often working in the most remote, under-resourced or crisis-affected areas”.
“Today, on International Nurses Day, we honour the commitment, compassion and courage of nurses across Africa and the world. Representing nearly 70% of the health workforce, nurses are the foundation of our health systems – essential every day, and indispensable in times of crisis.
“This year’s theme, Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Health Systems and Economies, reminds us that supporting nurses is key to building resilient, equitable and thriving health systems.
“As we mark this day, let us move beyond words to action. Let us commit to building a future in which nurses are trained, protected, respected and empowered to lead!”.
For a better society
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