WHO Expresses Concern as 42% of African Nurses Plan to Migrate

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed serious concern over the growing trend of nurse migration from Africa, revealing that 42 per cent of nurses on the continent are considering relocating abroad. 

This development, according to the WHO, threatens to deepen the healthcare workforce crisis across the region.

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, WHO’s acting Regional Director for Africa, made this known in a message marking the 2025 International Nurses Day. 

He acknowledged the vital role nurses play in health systems, especially in crisis situations, and emphasized that their contribution is irreplaceable.

“Today, we celebrate the courage, commitment, and resilience of nurses in Africa and around the world. Nurses form nearly 70 per cent of the health workforce and are central to healthcare delivery,” he stated.

Despite recent progress, including an increase in Africa’s nursing workforce from 900,000 in 2018 to 1.7 million in 2023, Dr. Ihekweazu warned that the continent still lags significantly behind global standards. 

He noted that Africa continues to record one of the lowest nurse-to-population ratios globally—over ten times lower than in wealthier countries.

He added that nurses make up 66 per cent of Africa’s projected shortage of 6.1 million healthcare workers by 2030, a deficit that poses a major barrier to achieving universal health coverage on the continent.

The WHO official also raised alarms over the increasing recruitment of nurses from low-income nations by high-income countries. 

He explained that foreign-born nurses now make up nearly 25 per cent of the nursing workforce in those wealthier nations.

“Despite 43 per cent of Africa’s nursing workforce being under the age of 35, many of them lack access to mentorship and structured career paths,” he said, pointing to another systemic weakness.

Financial constraints were also highlighted as a critical issue. According to Ihekweazu, African countries currently face a 43 per cent gap in health workforce funding, which has led to widespread underemployment—particularly among nurses and midwives.

He noted that efforts are underway to address the crisis. 

For instance, Zimbabwe has launched a new health workforce investment plan aimed at generating $166 million annually over three years to boost staffing levels.

The WHO is also advocating for improved working conditions, more investment in nursing education, and the creation of advanced nursing roles. 

Ihekweazu added that even though 85 per cent of nurses in Africa are women, the gender pay gap remains at seven per cent.

“Nurses are more than just caregivers,” he concluded. “They are critical to the future of healthcare across Africa.”