Kenya is losing its experienced nurses to Europe and America at a high rate.
In Uasin Gishu county alone, 120 out of 500 nurses have sought greener pastures overseas in the past three years, according to the Kenya National Union of Nurses.
The United States of America, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Finland are among the favourite destinations.
Is this good for the country? Yes and No.
Labour migration offers nurses and other health professionals better remuneration, higher living standards, more openings for career progression and exposure to cutting-edge technology and practices.
Unfortunately, these countries mainly target well-trained and skilled nurses mainly working at level 3 and 4 hospitals who have undergone training in critical healthcare and ICU operations.
This has left most public hospitals with a shortage of experienced nursing personnel, as it takes newly employed nurses time to specialise and gain critical skills.
A balance should therefore be struck between exporting labour and ensuring attrition of critical staff is contained.
While Kenya cannot compete with the offerings in the greener pastures, basic things can be done to improve the welfare of nurses.
These include better remuneration and timely payment of salaries, clear career progression path and improved staffing to reduce burnout.
Kenya is still listed among countries whose health systems are fragile and anything that worsens the situation must be addressed.
Quote of the Day: “Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change.”
André Gide
The French writer and Nobel laureate (1947) died on February 19, 1951
