Natasha demands better working conditions for Doctors, Nurses, Other Health Workers

Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has called for improved remuneration, working conditions and welfare packages for doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals to strengthen healthcare delivery and encourage workers to remain in underserved communities.

She made the call on Monday while speaking at the “Unfinished” event organised by Ward-C in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission, where she participated in discussions on maternal health, women’s rights and reproductive choices.

She said tackling Nigeria’s maternal mortality crisis required attention not only to statistics but also to the conditions confronting women, children and healthcare workers at the point of care.

The senator said health workers, particularly those serving rural communities, needed adequate remuneration, functional medical equipment, essential medicines, reliable electricity, conducive working environments and opportunities for professional development.
According to her, healthcare infrastructure could not function effectively without the human resources needed to operate and sustain it.

She also advocated stronger referral systems connecting rural primary healthcare centres with general and specialist hospitals, especially for women experiencing complicated pregnancies and other emergencies.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said maternal healthcare in rural communities remained a major concern because of limited access to qualified personnel, emergency services and essential equipment.

She questioned whether rural health facilities had sufficient personnel and equipment to manage complicated pregnancies and neonatal emergencies, including access to incubators and oxygen.
The lawmaker stressed that providing medical equipment without ensuring reliable electricity, trained personnel and maintenance would not adequately address healthcare challenges.

She called for functional laboratories, adequate blood supplies, neonatal facilities, emergency transportation, reliable electricity and water as essential components of an effective healthcare system.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also questioned whether official maternal mortality figures fully captured deaths occurring in rural communities, noting that some cases might go unreported.

She disclosed that her concerns about maternal healthcare in underserved communities had influenced her decision to build a maternity centre, stressing the need to complement policy discussions with practical interventions.

On reproductive health, the senator called for support systems that would provide women facing difficult pregnancy-related circumstances with information, counselling and appropriate assistance.

She urged stakeholders to sustain constructive dialogue on maternal healthcare, women’s rights and reproductive health, while increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure and the professionals responsible for delivering care.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said improving the conditions under which doctors, nurses and other health workers operate would strengthen healthcare delivery.