Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan calls for better pay and welfare for Nigerian healthcare workers

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for improved remuneration, welfare, and working conditions for doctors, nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals in Nigeria. Speaking at the ‘Unfinished’ event organized by Ward-C and the National Human Rights Commission, the Kogi Central senator emphasized that strengthening the healthcare system requires prioritizing the human capital necessary to operate medical infrastructure.

Akpoti-Uduaghan highlighted the specific challenges faced by healthcare workers in rural and underserved communities. She argued that medical professionals require access to functional equipment, essential medicines, reliable electricity, and opportunities for professional development to remain motivated and in service. She noted that infrastructure alone is insufficient without the personnel to sustain it.

Addressing the maternal mortality crisis, the senator stated that addressing the issue requires looking beyond statistics to the actual conditions women and children face at the point of care. She expressed concern that maternal death figures in rural areas may be underreported, suggesting the real numbers could be significantly higher. She advocated for a holistic approach that includes stronger referral links between rural clinics and larger hospitals, as well as improved emergency transport and newborn units.