The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Rivers State chapter, has urged the state government to improve the welfare of nurses, provide better working conditions, and invest in regular training programmes to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
The State Chairman of the association, Lemii Christian, made the appeal during the celebration of the 2026 International Nurses Week, held in honour of the birth anniversary of modern nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale.
Speaking on the theme, “Our Nurses, Our Future; Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” Christian called on the Rivers State Government to introduce retention allowances for nurses, similar to the policy implemented in Lagos State, to discourage the increasing migration of healthcare workers abroad.
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He also appealed to the government to begin promotion exercises for nurses under the State Primary Health Care Management Board and the Hospital Management Board, noting that many nurses had not been promoted in the last two years.
While commending Siminalayi Fubara for renovating and equipping general and primary healthcare facilities across the state, Christian stressed the need for the employment of more nurses, especially in primary healthcare centres.
According to him, recruiting additional personnel would help the state move closer to the World Health Organization recommended nurse-to-patient ratio and improve the quality of healthcare services.
