Health experts advocate insurance, EAP for nurses

Public health experts have urged that every nurse in Nigeria be covered by health insurance and backed by robust Employee Assistance Programmes, warning that without these protections, the country is risking the well-being of its caregivers and the quality of care patients receive.

The experts, on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the 25th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the West African Postgraduate College of Nurses and Midwives, Nigeria Chapter (WAPCNM), said the call became imperative given that nurses shoulder heavy workloads and endure emotional stress that can compromise their own well-being and, by extension, the quality of care they deliver.

Dr Lilly-West Buloala, Chairman of the Nigerian Chapter of WAPCNM, urged the Federal Government to prioritise the wellbeing of nurses, saying a healthier workforce is essential for an effective health sector. 

She said the wellness of the nurse is inseparable from the wellness of the patient, noting that nurses and midwives, who stand on the frontline of care, continue to face emotional exhaustion, occupational stress, inadequate support structures, and limited financial protection.

She said health insurance for nurses is non-negotiable, lamenting that those who safeguard public health often lack adequate coverage. 

“Health insurance is not merely a benefit. It is security, protection, and an anchor of retention,” she said.

Calling for EAP, Buloala stressed the need to institutionalise confidential and stigma-free support systems, including counselling, mental health services, crisis intervention, and workplace support to tackle burnout, compassion fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

Echoing the need to institutionalise supports for nurses, Dr Joan Shepherd, president of the West African Postgraduate College of Nurses and Midwives (WAPCNM), described the theme of the conference ”Healthy nurses, healthier patients: Advancing employee assistance programmes and health insurance in Nigeria’, as timely and essential for strengthening the health workforce. 

She said the college will continue to pursue practical initiatives, including a planned Abuja-based project intended to support professional development.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Ndagi Alhassan, argued that health insurance and comprehensive EAPs would offer practical support, ranging from mental health services to stress management and conflict resolution and help retain a resilient workforce.

Noting that the theme of the conference highlights a direct link between staff welfare and patient outcomes, Alhassan said, “The theme of this programme brings to the forefront the undeniable connection between the well-being of nurses and quality of care that patients receive.

“As we all know, nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system. Their health, mental well-being and job satisfaction are paramount to the quality of service we provide as a nation.

“Provision of EAPs and health insurance cover is critical in helping nurses cope with the demands of their profession. By introducing and expanding these programmes, we can address the challenges that nurses face and improve their overall health and work-life balance,”.

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He added that affordable, comprehensive health cover for healthcare workers would provide security and encourage better service delivery. 

“By advancing health insurance for nurses, we are making a significant investment in the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria”, he said, urging policymakers and stakeholders to translate policy proposals into concrete, fundable programmes.

On his part, Haruna Mamman, National President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), endorsed the conference focus, stressing that the health of patients is intimately tied to the health of caregivers. 

Quoting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition to make the point, he said, “Health as defined by the WHO, refers to a ‘state of complete physical, mental and Social well-being and not mere absence of disease or infirmity”.

Mamman said achieving those standards for nurses would require policies that address physical safety, mental health, social welfare and financial protection. 

He argued that a healthier nursing workforce would translate directly into healthier patients and stronger health systems.

Other participants called for coordinated action from government, employers and professional bodies to expand EAPs, establish staff health insurance schemes, and ensure implementation at the facility and state levels. 

They also urged that investments in nurses’ welfare be treated as central, not peripheral, to national health policy.