The healthcare sector in Kenya is facing a growing crisis as a significant number of nurses seek job opportunities overseas, leaving a potential gap in the local healthcare workforce.
This concern was highlighted during a recent two-day international nurses’ conference held at Avenue Hospital Parklands, aimed at celebrating nurses and addressing the challenges they face.
The conference provided a platform to recognize the crucial contributions of nurses to the healthcare system while tackling critical issues affecting the profession.
Key discussions focused on ensuring the safety of nurses, investing in the nursing workforce, and creating job opportunities to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality.
Chief Nursing Officer of Avenue Healthcare, Penina Kirea, expressed deep concern over the increasing trend of nurses leaving Kenya for better opportunities abroad. She urged the government to intervene and offer incentives to retain these essential healthcare professionals within the country.
Kirea emphasized the critical role of nurses in the healthcare sector, warning that failure to address this issue could plunge the country’s medical sector into a crisis.
According to Kirea, the migration of nurses to Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom is driven by factors such as perceived lack of appreciation and inadequate remuneration in Kenya.
This trend poses a significant threat to the healthcare system, as it may lead to a shortage of skilled and experienced nurses within the country.
“We must motivate our health professionals to stay and work in Kenya by offering incentives such as professional development programs, sponsorships for specialized training, and efforts to ensure job satisfaction and well-being among nurses,” Kirea stated.
Earlier this year, on February 9, the Council of Governors criticized the government’s plan to send trained nurses abroad. The Council noted that while the government is pushing this agenda, there is a pressing need for health workers within the nation.
CoG Health Committee Chair, Muthomi Njuki, remarked, “We spend a lot of money training our health workers, only to send them to the Western world under the assumption they need jobs because they are jobless, while our facilities face shortages.”
In response to this growing issue, senators have launched an inquiry to assess how the health sector has been impacted by the increasing number of nurses seeking jobs abroad.
As Kenya grapples with this emerging crisis, it is imperative that comprehensive measures are taken to retain its nursing workforce and ensure the sustainability of its healthcare system.
