NTNGI envisions a world in which all nurses have the infrastructure to support and empower each other in their efforts to positively impact the health and wellbeing of patients and their families.

NTNGI Graphic_World map

OVERVIEW

Nursing Workforce in Sub-Saharan Africa

Nursing is the largest professional sector of the global healthcare workforce and delivers the majority of primary care in sub-Saharan Africa. However, nursing in this region, as is the case elsewhere, is faced with the growing challenge of workforce shortage partly attributed to the exodus of highly trained nurses.

Nursing Shortage

WHO Region released data on the estimated critical shortages of doctors, nurses and midwives in 2007 (WHO. 2006). The report included a summary of the total number of health workers, approximate shortages, and the percentages of health care workers needed to address shortages by regions.

Actions Taken

Although these challenges continue to infest the nursing profession regardless of geographic location, nurses in sub-Saharan Africa routinely confront these daunting demands, which are beyond their control, yet are responsible to deliver quality care to a large population.

NGNTI Logo 2