The World Health Organization has warned that Africa may face a staggering shortage of 5.3 million healthcare professionals by 2030 if urgent action is not taken. Dr. Muyiwa Ojo, Technical Officer for Human Resources for Health at WHO, emphasized this alarming projection at a capacity-building workshop for health journalists in Abuja.

Nigeria is already grappling with a severe healthcare crisis, lacking nearly one million healthcare professionals – the third-largest absolute shortage globally. Dr. Ojo stressed that Nigeria’s brain drain is the highest in Africa, with many skilled professionals seeking better opportunities abroad. The country is among 55 nations facing critical health workforce challenges.

Poor HRH planning, uneven workforce distribution and inadequate recruitment and retention policies exert immense pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system. These issues compromise healthcare delivery quality and hinder effective public health responses. Labor market failures, insufficient education and training resources, and poor health sector funding exacerbate the crisis.

The workshop also highlighted the media’s crucial role in tackling gender-based violence and sexual exploitation. Ms. Oyinloye Inigbehe, WHO’s technical officer for Gender-Based Violence, emphasized media coverage’s impact on awareness, advocacy and policy changes. By reporting on these issues, media outlets can empower survivors and raise awareness about the causes.

The World Health Organization has been working to address Nigeria’s health crisis, providing essential medicines, care for pregnant mothers and infants and outbreak control ¹. However, sustained efforts are necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and address the looming shortage of healthcare professionals.