In commemorating the 2021 international Nurses Week, the leadership of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has asked government and policy makers in the country for inclusion of the professional Nurses in public policy targeting at shaping Health Care sector in the country.
Making the request, the kwara state chairman of the association, comrade Aminu Shehu, said “Nurses are at the heart of Health Care and can no longer take back seat in planing for a better future of health care system and hence, government should ensure Nurses are involved in the policy making that has to do with health care delivery”
Added that “leadership of Nurses Association urged the federal and kwara state government in particular to make sure that any Health Committee that will be constituted have Nurses represented”
Comrade Aminu, also take advantage of the occasion to thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration in the state for laudable achievements recorded in health sector.
“We thanked our amiable Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for prompt payment of salary, successful containment of COVID-19 surge and the establishment of well equipped infectious disease treatment centre, renovation of Hospitals across the state, payment of counterpart fund for Primary Health Care Programme particularly at the local level and employment of 236 Nurses”
He, however asked the state government to increase its investment in the sector said the sector had experienced major setback in the past and it need huge investment to meet up with the standard conditions of practice.
“We urged government to increase its investment in the sector, more importantly in the following areas; supplying of more equipment facilities, engagement of more professional and adjustment of CONHESS from 60% to 100% for State and 50% to 100% for Local Government Nurses in combination with the minimum wage” Aminu said
In his remarks at the event, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented at the event by his Commissioner of Health, Dr. Raji Rasak thanked the professional Nurses for their immeasurable contributions during the hit period of COVID-19, added that government will continue to upgrade and provide equipment facilities to all the health care centers in the state.
The occasion also witnessed the launching of the maiden edition of Kwara State Nurses Compendium, which was reviewed by the general manager of the Herald Newspaper, Mr. Yomi Adeboye.
