Healthcare Union Issues 5 Urgent Demands to Address Chronic National Nursing Shortages

The head of the Nursing Association has issued a stark warning over a “chronic” shortage of medical staff and deteriorating working conditions during a major international summit in Mauritius.

Speaking at the International Nurses Day celebrations at the Plaza in Rose Hill, Ram Nowzadick, president of the association, described nurses as the “heart of the healthcare system” while demanding immediate investment in recruitment and training to prevent a total collapse of local services.

A Profession Under Pressure

The event, held under the theme Our Nurses, Our Future, highlighted a sector pushed to the brink.

Union leaders and health officials reported that nurses are frequently forced to work 24 to 48 consecutive hours due to severe understaffing.

In some instances, a mere two nurses are left to manage wards of up to 35 patients during night shifts.

The crisis is being further fueled by a “brain drain,” with the Vice-President of the Republic, Robert Hungley, noting that many professionals are emigrating to Australia and Canada for better pay.

While Mauritius maintains a ratio of 36 nurses and midwives per 10,000 inhabitants—above the regional average—Mr Hungley admitted this is insufficient to meet the demands of an ageing population.

Calls for Recognition and Safety

Mr Nowzadick used the platform to denounce several growing threats to the profession, including:

• Burnout: Extreme exhaustion caused by excessive overtime.
• Workplace Violence: A rising trend of aggression directed at hospital staff.
• Lack of Recognition: A formal request has been made to the government to declare International Nurses Day an official public holiday.

A Poignant Tribute

The ceremony took a somber turn with a minute of silence for Rishan Aserigadu, a 44-year-old nurse who died in a road accident while returning home from an overtime shift.

Colleagues described him as a man of “duty and compassion,” using his tragic passing to illustrate the human cost of the current staffing crisis.

Leadership for the Future

Despite the challenges, the event celebrated professional advancement through the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Leadership for Change (LFC) programme.

Graduates, including Samuel Alcide, a Charge Nurse at Jeetoo Hospital, noted that the training has equipped staff with vital skills in crisis management and communication.

Nurse Babeeta Bhivah added that while the training is essential, the “invisible battles” fought by nurses behind every patient must be met with structural improvements to the healthcare system.

Source: l’Express