The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has called on the Federal Government to prioritise health workforce financing.
It also called for the engagement of over 115,000 graduate nurses eager to contribute their skills and expertise to the nation’s healthcare system.
The President of the association, Haruna Mamman, made the remark at an event to commemorate the International Day of the Midwife and the commencement of the 2025 International Nurses Week.
Mamman said this year’s event, with the theme, ‘Our nurses, our future: caring for nurses, strengthening economies,’ underscored the importance of a healthy nursing workforce.
He, therefore, called for immediate funding and workable solutions to safeguard nurses and midwives from emotional, mental, and physical difficulties.
He, however, noted that nurses must confront issues of negligence and attitude in patient care, that has so far tarnished the image of the profession.
He, further, expressed his commitment to driving initiatives that would promote professionalism, continuing education and ethical standards within the nursing profession.
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Worry Over Insecurity
The NANNM’s call for better protection for nurses rechoes the general concern over the spate of insecurity in the country, especially as it affects medical workers.
In January, the Katsina State council of the association declared the withdrawal of nurses and midwives working in the hospitals located along the frontline and vulnerable areas in the state over the abduction of one of the association’s members, Nurse Yusuf Mai-Ruwa, by gunmen.
Mairuwa was said to have been abducted while on duty at the General Hospital, Kankara, on January 15, 2025.
The Chairman of the association, Nura Mu’azu, who spoke during a press briefing held at the State Council Secretariat with the title, ‘Health Worker You Are On Your Own,’ said Mai-Ruwa was kidnapped while on duty.
He added, “He (Mai-Ruwa) falls victim while in the line of duty, and this has aggravated the fear in every health worker serving in the frontline and vulnerable areas, as it has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that no healthcare worker is safe despite our immeasurable sacrifices to society and humanity.
“The situation has equally scratched the scar/wound that we all have from related cases, such as the killing of our late colleague, Murtala Isah Safana, (working then with the General Hospital Dutsin-ma) by gunmen in 2022.
Source: Channels TV
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