International Nurses Day: NANNM Advocate for Nurses welfare Packages

National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives marked 2023 International Nurses Week with the theme: “Our Nurses. Our Future” recently in Abuja.

International Nurses Day (IND) is an international day observed around the world on 12 May (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth) each year, to mark the contributions that nurses make to society.

Speaking with the GreenLand News, Com. Michael E. Nnachi, National President of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, said “International Nurses Day is a very important day for Nurses and Midwives all over the world. It is about the celebration of a unique lady with exceptional quality in leadership and the founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale. She was born on May 12, 1820, accidentally she died on 13th August, 1910. As we celebrate Nurses Day we celebrate her life.”
“We also use the opportunity to celebrate achievements done by Nurses. The contribution of Nurses to the health sector. Most importantly the key role the nurses play in the health sector. They contribute to addressing the objective of the Federal Ministry of Health on universal health coverage sustainable development goal.”
Nothing that 75,000 Nurses have left Nigeria in the last five years and many are still leaving because of poor condition of services.
According to him, “We therefore call on relevant key stakeholders to review our professional allowances appoint nurses and Midwives into key positions in governance. Most importantly involve the Nurses on policy matters, decision making on health.
“Government should provide insurance for Nurses and Midwives so that they will feel protected.
Com. Nnachi also stressed on some challenges facing Nursing profession in Nigeria such as: workforce, infrastructure, brain drain, social security, unsafe environment, non-gazette/publishing of the unified scheme of service for Nurses and Midwives; non-creation of a directorate of nursing in the Federal Ministry of Health, non-implementation of National Industrial Court (NIC) judgement of 2012 and Restore the payment of teaching allowances to deserving Nurses and Midwives”
Adding that non-implimentation of the 60% shift duty allowances as contained in the agreement signed by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives and witnessed by the then President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Adams Oshiomole.
Com. Nnachi called on the government at various levels in the country to equally accede to the demands of Nigeria Nurses in the states if the federation including the Federal Capital Territory.

Contributing, Com. Ishaku Yakubu, NANNM Chairman Kaduna State Council, said Nurses Day is the day Nurses commemorate the birth of Florence Nightingale the mother of modern nursing. Nurses all over the world are celebrating her birth because of what she did for nurses. She brought nursing to what it is today .
“In 1854 Florence Nightingale took care of the wounded soldiers ensuring they are properly taken care of . She also used lamp to check on them. She is the lady with a lamp.”
“It is a day of excitement and a clarion call for Nurses to renew our commitment in taking care of our patients and clients.” Com. Ishaku said.