Amidst the soaring number of unemployed health professionals in Uganda, the country is grappling with the consequences of its surplus of nurses, driving many to seek employment opportunities abroad. This situation has presented a challenging dilemma for the government as it struggles to address the healthcare shortage while simultaneously dealing with the mass exodus of qualified nurses.
Uganda produces approximately 5,000 nurses annually, yet only 2,000 find employment within the government’s healthcare system. Ivan Bafaki, a 26-year-old registered nurse, laments the dire situation, stating, “The situation here is too bad, you can’t make it. For many nurses like me, it’s a constant struggle.”
President of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, Justus Cherop, highlights the oversupply of nurses, necessitating alternative employment options. He explains, “The government cannot recruit them all. Our health sector requires around 40,000 nurses, but due to financial constraints, the government cannot accommodate them all. As a result, our nurses are overworked, and those who have trained but remain unemployed face the consequence of the wage bill.”
Uganda’s Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, acknowledges the need to employ nurses and health professionals but recognizes the limitations posed by the World Health Organization’s recommendations regarding the healthcare workforce. She explains, “African countries have not yet reached the recommended number of health workers per population. In Uganda, we have as few as 2 doctors per 10,000 population. Despite the shortfalls, we cannot prevent nurses from seeking opportunities abroad.”
While Uganda faces challenges in retaining its health professionals domestically, other countries are keenly interested in their services. Gladys Nakiguli, a registered nurse, migrated to the United Kingdom in 2019 following a recommendation from a friend. Nakiguli admits that she had contemplated leaving the nursing profession altogether due to the prevailing circumstances. However, upon discovering the possibility of working abroad, she seized the opportunity, revitalizing her career aspirations.
With the demand for healthcare workers on the rise, Uganda continues to witness an influx of students enrolling in nursing schools across the country. The Mulago Training School for Nurses and Midwives in Kampala is teeming with enthusiastic students eager to make a difference. Principal Eva Nampiima emphasizes the importance of training a significant number of nurses to meet domestic demands while also having surplus capacity for export to other countries in need.
However, not all students are driven by the desire to serve their home country. Cathy Busingye, a nursing student, reveals her intentions to pursue opportunities abroad in countries like Canada, where there is a high demand for nurses. Recognizing the preferences of foreign healthcare systems, Busingye acknowledges that if the prospects in Uganda are limited, she will plan to utilize her skills elsewhere.
The exodus of nurses is raising concerns about the ability of the country’s healthcare system to provide adequate care for a growing population. Justus Cherop elaborates on the situation, stating that the demand for Ugandan nurses has doubled in recent years. The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Italy are among the countries desperately seeking qualified nurses to address their own shortages. Cherop urges the government to adopt flexible policies to allow for the movement of nurses abroad while also addressing the healthcare needs at home.
As Uganda wrestles with the challenges posed by a surplus of nurses, it must find a delicate balance between economic realities and meeting the healthcare needs of its population. Striving towards comprehensive policies that simultaneously address domestic staffing shortages and the aspirations of health professionals yearning for career growth abroad is paramount. Only through effective strategies and collaborative efforts can Uganda maximize the potential of its nursing workforce and ensure its citizens receive the quality healthcare they deserve.
Image Credit: MedicAlert UK on Unsplash
