Nurses, midwives call for adequate protection, improved working environs

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) yesterday

called on government at all levels to provide adequate security for its members across the federation especially during immunization of children.

The association lamented that its members have been attacked on several occasions while performing their lawful duties in recent times without adequate protection and guaranteed insurance package by their employers.

Addressing members of the association during its first zone D and E two day workshop, themed ‘Emerging Security and Health Challenges: Implications to Quality Nursing Care in Nigeria’ held at Asa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, the National President, Abdrafiu Adeniji submitted that in order for the country to make sustainable progress in its health sector, adequate attention must be given to nurses and midwives just as its given to doctors.

Represented by his General Secretary, Comrade Yusuf Badmus, the President said ‘’our nurses must not die in vain. If doctors are been immortalized, Nurses too should be immortalized because they are the first contact.”

Earlier, the Chairperson of NANNM in Kaduna, Comrade Cecelia Musa said the purpose of the workshop was to educate members ‘’now that we are in a period of security challenges and subsequently prompted the organizers to come up with the workshop.

“It has not been easy at all for health workers to go out and immunize children and other challenges. Remember that when the Ebola first came in, it was nurses that had first contact, and that was why a nurse was the first victim after Liberian, Patrick Sawyer before any doctor.

That is why every nurse and midwife gathered here from the North-west and North-east to learn during this two day workshop after which we will go back to our various activities as improved persons and impart it to those who could not come because of their work.

Declaring the workshop open, Kaduna state Deputy Governor, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga said the state government is up and doing as far as security is concern, adding that government was doing everything it could to tame insecurity.

“It is believed that at the end of the workshop, you will avail the government with the compendium of suggestions on the way forward in our health sector of the economy.” He stressed.