Shortage of oncology nurses threatens cancer care delivery in Nigeria

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 call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

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 lacked sufficient specialists to meet the increasing demand for cancer care, added that the migration of trained nurses to other countries further worsen the situation.

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

Mrs 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 masters and doctoral degrees.

“Our voices need to be heard because we are patient advocates. We see them go through the pain,” 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, an oncology nurse, Ann Joachim, described the shortage of trained specialists as a major challenge.

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

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

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

In spite of the challenges, 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 played in cancer treatment.

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.