By Justina Auta
The Federal Government and other stakeholders have challenged nurses and other health workers to renew their commitment to work to improve access to healthcare services.
They made the call at the 2023 Nurses Week workshop and unveiling of a magazine on the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: Keeping Hope Alive.”
The event was organised by the State House Medical Centre in Abuja.
Funso Adebiyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, while commending nurses for their zeal and hard work, urged nurses to renew their commitment to the profession to give hope to vulnerable persons in the society.
Represented by Mrs Aderonke Jayesimi, the Director of Administration in the Presidential Villa, the permanent secretary described nurses as “beckon of hope.”
According to him, nurses offer solace and support to people in vulnerable moments.
He said “I urge you to renew your commitment to keep hope alive; let us celebrate the moment of triumph no matter how little; your compassionate care has the potential to transform lives that sometimes seem daunting.
“Nurses have the ability to bring a ray of hope into the lives of those they touch and care for.”
Morakinyo Olajide, Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives and Federal Health Institutions (NANNM-FHI), who spoke about brain drain, attributed the trend to poor wages, insecurity, social situation and access to quality education.
The chairman said “so, we are trying to sensitise our people and colleagues to see reasons why they should stay behind and salvage the healthcare system.
“We urge government to do the needful by taking care of nurses’ wages; pay all monies owed them; enhance the pay to encourage them to remain in the country.
“The burden on those remaining in Nigeria is overwhelming; they need to be encouraged so that they can stay,” Olajide said.
Similarly, Thompson-Olatigbe Taiwo, Head of Department of Nursing in the Medical Centre, said the exercise was to recognize the significant contributions made by nurses and to suggest ways to resolve their challenges.
“This year’s theme of the Nurses Week celebration — “Our nurses, our future, exemplifies both the declaration and commitment to excel in the demanding and rewarding profession.
“As nurses, we strive to strike a balance between providing quality care and maintaining the standard that continues to mark the nursing profession.
“The profession faces significant challenges and we appreciate the State House medical nurses for their dedication and resilience in discharging their duties in the critical state of brain-drain in our nation.”
Deborah Morgan, a Nurse and Anesthetist, said the workshop had broadened her knowledge about the effects of negligence and malpractice, especially on patients.
The event also featured other activities including a road walk and unveiling of the nurses magazine.
A nurse is a critical health-care professional who cares for the sick, treat patients, record their medical history, provide emotional support, and provide follow-up care, as well as help doctors to perform diagnostic tests.
