The federal government and other stakeholders have challenged nurses and other health workers to renew their commitment to improving access to healthcare services.

They made the call at the 2023 Nurses Week workshop and the 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.

While commending nurses for their zeal and hard work, Funso Adebiyi, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, urged nurses to renew their commitment to the profession to give hope to vulnerable people.

Represented by Aderonke Jayesimi, the director of administration in the Presidential Villa, the permanent secretary described nurses as a “beacon 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 of the 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 the government to do what is needed by paying nurses’ wages, paying all monies owed, and enhancing 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,” Mr Olajide said.

Similarly, Thompson-Olatigbe Taiwo, head of the Department of Nursing in the Medical Centre, said the exercise was to recognise nurses’ significant contributions and suggest ways to resolve their challenges.

“As nurses, we strive to strike a balance between providing quality care and maintaining the standard that continues to mark the nursing profession,” said Mr Taiwo. “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 anaesthetist, 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 the nurse’s magazine.

A nurse is a critical healthcare professional who cares for the sick, treats patients, records their medical history, provides emotional support, provides follow-up care, and helps doctors perform diagnostic tests.

(NAN)