Each year, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) celebrates International Nurses Week from 6th to 12th of May, to mark the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
Known as the “Angel of Crimea” or the “Lady with the Lamp”, Florence Nightingale, who was a nurse manager on the frontline, introduced hygiene protocol and other measures that drastically reduced infection and death in battlefield and hospital. The fact that we have a nursing profession today is in large parts, due to her dedication and commitment to serve others. Taking a cue from Florence Nightingale’s contributions to reduction of morbidity and mortality, the value of nursing in health care delivery became central in all health systems globally.
To acknowledge the contributions of nurses and call attention to their working condition, the International Council of Nurses established 6 to 12 May yearly as Nurses Week, not just to celebrate the founder of nursing but to also create awareness for governments at all levels to invest in health workforce, especially nursing work force, having learnt bitter lessons from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. In the heat of Covid-19 pandemic, the invaluable contributions of nurses to a functional health system took a centre stage and exposed the weaknesses of health care delivery systems caused by under-investment in health care workforce around the world.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “A Voice to Lead: Invest in Nursing and Respect the Right to Global Health”, demonstrates the need to invest in nursing, build a resilient and highly qualified nursing workforce and to protect nurses’ rights in order to make the health system meet the needs of individuals and communities, now and into the future.
Nurses all over the world especially in Anambra State, showcase the incredible range of innovative work they do on a daily basis to promote health, prevent diseases, treat the sick to reduce morbidity and mortality including rehabilitation of individuals with one form of disability or the other.
In the spirit of this year’s Nurses Week celebration, the National Council of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Anambra State, heartily felicitate with the our Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR and his Deputy, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, on their victory at the polls.
We commend government’s efforts at cleaning up Okpoko and the rest of the cities because this will reduce disease outbreak, like cholera, diarrhea, measles etc. However, it is no longer news that the nursing practice in Anambra State has been bedeviled with insurmountable challenges.
Poor remuneration of nurses and midwives has led to mass migration of highly qualified nurses to either federal health institutions or abroad in search of greener pastures. This has affected the healthcare delivery adversely as the small number of nurses that remain are overwhelmed by work in hospitals.
It is important to review the CONSOLIDATED HEALTH SALARY STRUCTURE (CONHESS) which has not been properly implemented in the state. We humbly request for not only the full implementation of the 60% CONHESS but its upward review to 100% for nurses in the State and primary health centres.
Shortage of nurses and midwives in both general hospitals and primary health centres, has its attendant negative consequences on health care delivery in the State. We appeal for the implementation of new hazard allowance of N32, 000 per nurse which was recently reviewed as result of Covid-19 pandemic.
If government continues to put off investment in health workforce, it will destabilise the entire health system. Moreover, the system must guarantee and promote nurses’ right to safe working environment, decent wages and full participation in decision making in the health industry.
We therefore appeal to our dear Governor, Professor CC Soludo to invest in nursing to ensure quality health care delivery in Anambra State to make it indeed a prosperous and livable homeland driven by the philosophy of “ONE ANAMBRA, ONE PEOPLE, AND ONE AGENDA”. Together we can make it happen.
Aluta continua. Victoria Acerta!
Writen by COMR. EDITH ONWUKA
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