Daud Olatunji
Nigeria’s fight against cancer is facing a critical manpower challenge, with the country estimated to have only about 300 oncology nurses to care for thousands of patients diagnosed with the disease annually.
The shortage, compounded by the migration of trained nurses to foreign countries, is threatening the quality of cancer care and placing additional pressure on the country’s already stretched healthcare system.
Oncology nursing professionals have consequently called on the Federal Government to improve nurses’ welfare, expand specialist training opportunities and ensure their participation in decisions affecting healthcare delivery.
They made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, warning that the country’s growing cancer burden requires urgent investment in specialised nursing personnel.
According to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Nigeria records between 102,000 and 127,763 new cancer cases annually, while cancer-related deaths range from approximately 72,000 to 79,542 each year.
The figures underscore the growing demand for specialised cancer services and the need to strengthen the workforce responsible for supporting patients through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Prof. Khadijat Musah, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Sciences at the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, estimated that Nigeria had approximately 300 oncology nurses.
Musah expressed concern over the continued migration of trained nurses and urged the government to address the welfare challenges pushing healthcare professionals to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
“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 noted that the country had limited capacity for training oncology nurses, explaining that only two institutions offered specialist training, with each admitting up to 50 candidates, depending on available resources and institutional capacity.
Although some universities have introduced postgraduate programmes in oncology nursing, including master’s and doctoral degrees, the available training opportunities remain inadequate to meet the country’s growing needs.
Musah stressed that oncology nurses occupied a crucial position in cancer management because of their close contact with patients and their understanding of the physical and emotional difficulties associated with the disease.
“Our voices need to be heard because we are patient advocates. We see them go through the pain,” she said.
She maintained that nurses’ direct involvement in patient care gave them valuable insight into the challenges confronting cancer patients during treatment and recovery, making their contributions essential to improving healthcare delivery.
An oncology nurse, Ann Joachim, also described the shortage of trained specialists as a major obstacle to effective cancer care.
“We are short-staffed. We have a limited number of trained oncology nurses,” she said.
Joachim explained that nurses seeking to specialise in oncology often had to sacrifice considerable time and resources to acquire the necessary skills, despite the limited recognition and rewards attached to their expertise.
She added that oncology nurses faced occupational risks associated with their work, further highlighting the need for improved working conditions and appropriate professional support.
Despite the difficulties, Joachim encouraged young nurses to consider oncology as a career, describing it as an opportunity to contribute directly to the fight against a disease that continues to affect thousands of Nigerian families.
“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.
Similarly, Fatima Adam, Vice-President of the Oncology Nursing Society of Nigeria, emphasised that specialised nurses were indispensable to multidisciplinary cancer treatment teams.
Adam, who works at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, said oncology nurses played a central role in ensuring continuity of care for patients undergoing treatment.
“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 advocated the early introduction of nursing students to oncology to encourage more young professionals to pursue specialisation and help bridge the manpower gap.
“Catch them young,” Adam said.
The call for early exposure to oncology nursing comes amid concerns that limited specialist training and the departure of experienced healthcare workers could further weaken the country’s capacity to provide adequate cancer services.
Nanre Mampak, an oncology nurse and educator with more than 20 years of experience, also called for greater inclusion of nurses in health sector decision-making.
Mampak criticised a situation in which policies affecting nurses were formulated without sufficient input from the professionals expected to implement them.
“People who know nothing about nurses go to make decisions and ask nurses to implement,” she said.
She urged the Federal Government to recognise nurses as essential stakeholders in health policy formulation, arguing that their practical experience should inform decisions on staffing, training, welfare and patient care.
“My advice for the Nigerian government is that let us make nurses fully inclusive in decision-making in the health sector,” she said.
The specialists’ concerns highlight the need for a coordinated response involving government, training institutions and healthcare employers to strengthen oncology nursing, improve staff retention and expand access to specialist education.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'