-As Lagos NANNM Holds 2018 Nurses Week
For the patients’ right to essential and adequate healthcare to be implemented to the fullest, then the twenty-first century nurses must equip themselves with all necessary resources, to be worthy advocates of their patients, Professor of nursing, University of Ibadan, Prisca O. Adejumo has said.
Adejumo, who described patients as the most important persons in any healthcare enterprise, said nurses are the most important advocates of these patients, because nurses respond to the healthcare needs of patients in all stages of life, from the point of birth to the time of departure from the world.
Speaking on the theme of the programme: “Nurses: A Voice to Lead ; Health is a Human Right”, she said this special obligation and service to humanity, poses a great challenge to nurses, as they must always endeavour to be good ambassadors of their patients.
“It is important for a nurse to believe in herself because nursing is actually a calling, you don’t just come into nursing for fun, if you are here in nursing and you have responded to the call, that call should drive you, it helps you everywhere you find yourself, willing to make a difference.
“In trying to make a difference, you become the advocate of the patient, you become the voice of the voiceless, you become the leg to the amputee, to those who have no hand you become the hands to them, and you become the eyes to the blind”, she stated.
She also emphasised the place of academic training for today nurses, saying it is important for nursing to improve their knowledge, in order to be worthy advocates of the patients.” If you are lacking in any area, go ahead and improve on yourself and don’t wait for the government to sponsor you, do something for yourself, train yourself a little, it is very important”.
In his own contribution, the Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Lagos State branch, Comrade Julius Awojide, explained the rationale for the theme of the conference, which he said was adopted globally, to address inequality in healthcare.
Citing the WHO’s Director General‘s statement on nurses’ roles in the society, he said nurses respond to the health needs of people in all settings and throughout the lifespan.”Their roles are critical in achieving global mandates, such as Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals”.
According to him: “As nurses, we are at the fore-front of the clamour for health as a human right especially at this critical period of calculated attempt to privatise our public health sector. The human right to health means service, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions and a clean environment”.
While he condemned quackery in the practice, he said “nurses wish to sound a note of warning that we shall continue to promote wellness and healthy lifestyles as key to eliminating the unequal burden of disease experienced by the poor and underserved population”.
