Nurses and midwives in Anambra state have appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to pay attention to the plights of their members to ensure quality health care delivery in the state.

 

The Anambra State Chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Edith Onwuka said that as frontline workers, Nurses and midwives have been exposed to highly infectious and lethal virus, suffer extreme workload and continue to be underpaid and undervalued especially in Nigeria, hence the need for government to invest in nursing to build a resilient highly qualified nursing workforce, as well as transform the health system to meet the needs of individuals and communities.

Comrade Onwuka stated this during a press conference to commemorate the 2022 International Nurses Week in Awka which started from sixth to the twelfth of May 2022, with the theme: “Nurses: A Voice to Lead, Invest in Nursing and Respect the Right to Global Health”.

 

Felicitating with Professor Soludo and his Deputy Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim on their victory and successful swearing-in of office, Comrade Onwuka expressed the council’s delight in their resolve to turn the State into a prosperous and livable homeland.

 

She said that Nurses and midwives as promoters of health are appreciative of the governor’s move in cleaning Okpoko and other cities as this according to her will reduce disease outbreaks like cholera, diarrhea, measles among others.

 

She appealed for the urgent upward review to one hundred per cent of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for nurses in the state and Primary Healthcare Centers, while saying that although it is a written policy that the state government will pay sixty per cent, it is not properly and fully implemented.

 

Other executive members of the association present to mark the event were the Vice Chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Comrade Helen Obi, the Treasurer, Comrade Esther Igwegbe, the Public Relations Officer, Comrade Christy Alukwe, the Auditor one, Comrade Michael Egbuniwe, among other members.