By Gbenga Olarinoye

For nurses under the umbrella of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife chapter, 2015 International Nurses Week was an opportunity for them to come together and discuss on how to re-dedicate themselves and make better impact in the nursing profession.

Cultural troups entertaining guests on the occasion

The week started on Sunday, 10th May, 2015 but climaxed on Tuesday, 12th May, 2015 with a lecture given by A professor of Nursing, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun state, Prof. Ezekiel Ajao on the theme: “Nurses: A Force For Change; Care Effective, Cost Effective.” It was a day Florence Nightingale, the founder of professional nursing figuratively ressurected as her impacts in health care delivery were commended.

Particularly, the nurses and midwives in OAUTHC, Ile-Ife were commended for their dedication to the work of saving lives as they were encouraged not to feel inferior to medical doctors. Declaring the ceremony open, Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola showered encomium on the nurses saying they are indispensable force in the health sector.

The governor then advised the nurses to always display prudence in delivering their service that was what Florence Nightingale was known for. Aregbesola said his administration had taken holistic view into the health sector in the state through one of its six pint integral action plan; Restoration of a good healthy living.

Speaking, the Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, Prof. Victor Adebayo Adetiloye praised NANNM of the hospital advising them not to be dettered by the harsh economic condition battling the country. According to Adetiloye, “we (nurses) don’t know worth as nurses. You may not believe it, I feel very comfortable among our nurses. They are caring and immaculate. There was a reduction in our personnel allocation, we have to re-adjust and re-arrange our priorities because of the dwindling economy facing the country.

While advising the medical practitioners to maintain the high standard nursing profession has attained and shun mediocrity, Prof. Adetiloye said “if there is no self-change, we cannot achieve anything collectively. He added “be mindful of the unity among yourselves. In health sector, there is healthy rivalry and as nurses, we cannot do without that. Shun internal bickering and acrimony; uphold ethical rules, respect your seniors, don’t play politics with the issue of your profession in order not to be left behind.

“Nursing has grown tremendously and you should endeavour to maintain that standard and do away with mediocrity. Make a resolution that you will leave this profession better than the way you met it. Also addressing the immaculate-looking nurses  adorned in their uniform, the Director of Nursing Services in Osun state Ministry of Health, Mrs. Victoria Ogunfowokan urged them to always imbibe in the virtues of Florence Nightingale.

She charged them to be more dedicated to their duties and maintain a high sense of attitudinal change and discipline in caring for the sick and ensuring that the sick are are well taken care off. . The chairman of the occasion, Elder Lawrence Adewoyin expressed pleasure at the doggedness and prudence inherent in the nursing profession thus advised them to further promote these sterling qualities in the day to day discharge of their life-saving duties.

Speaking at the occasion, the local chairman of NANNM, OAUTHC, comrade Olasunkanmi BuKola Toyin chronicled how the celebration of nurses week named after the founder of the modern day nursing, Florence Nightingale started in 1965. The ceremony also witnessed a cultural dance by a dancing troupe while participants expressed gratitude to the leadership of NANNM of OAUTHC, Ile-Ife for a well-panned week.

In her address, the chairperson of local organizing committee of the Nurses week, Mrs Maureen Arit Adekoya, stated that as role models, Nurses across the globe are encouraged to organise programmes that will contribute to quality patient care and healthy living of people living within their immediate society through community service and customer friendly initiatives.

According to her, “the public lecture will expose Nurses to how they especially in their environment are reinforce to change, stressing that the scientific session, symposium and other events that took place, are aimed at bringing solutions to how Nurses can effectively manage cost in health care system.

Her words, “the objective of the INW 2015 conference is to update Nurses and health care providers on how we can give quality health care. It will also provide an opportunity to deliberate on possible ways of upgrading health care in Nigeria.” “The conference will be an avenue for younger colleagues to get hands-on experience on procedures in the nursing field and to benefit from the reservoir of knowledge of professionals in the field.”

Medical Expert Asks Nurses To Lobby For Political Appointments

In his lecture, a professor of Nursing at Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun state, Prof. Ezekiel Ajao has charged Nurses and Midwives to participate actively in political process and also lobby for political appointments with a view to  repositioning the nation’s health sector. Prof. Ajao gave the charge  at the 2015 International Nurses Week organised by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife chapter.

Speaking as a guest lecturer on the theme: “Nurses: A Force For Change; Care Effective, Cost Effective”, Prof. Ajao who noted that nurses and midwives occupy more than 60 percent of the workforce in the health sector urged them to engage in politics and lobby for appointments such as Minister of Health or Board Chairman of health institutions.

Prof. Ajao, who is the Dean, School of Nursing at Babcock varsity also asked private duty nurses to engage in group practices and encourage joint industrial negotiation. His words: Nurses and midwives should participate actively in policy formulation, participate in political process and lobby for political appointments such as Minister of Health or Board Chairman.”