Nurses working in all other healthcare facilities across Lagos State on Sunday appealed to the state government to extend its welfare packages to them as they are daily exposed to high hazardous environment.
he nurses, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Lagos State chapter, made the appeal in a statement in Lagos.
Its Chairman, Mrs Blessing Israel, said that it has becomes essentially necessary that certain areas of interest concerning the welfare of nurses in the state should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“There is need for improvement in the provision and supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) including surgical masks, N 95 face masks, disposable gowns and latex elbow gloves.
“Government should provide concretised arrangements for insurance cover for nurses and upward review of the present ridiculous hazard allowance for health workers,” Israel said.
She said that the experience of nurses on the field in the last few weeks had brought to the fore, pertinent and apparent questions that should be addressed as Lagos State was at the centre stage of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The leadership of our association have great concerns for the working environment in which our nurses have found themselves; shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which exposes them to unnecessary risk.
“Presently, some of our nurses have tested positive to COVID-19 and have presented themselves at the isolation centre for management.
“These set of people will require immediate activation of their insurance policy.“Also, about 25 nurses are on self quarantine after being exposed to cases of COVID-19.
“This is telling on the already strained manpower at various health facilities, making the work overwhelming for nurses,” she said.Israel said nurses were made to suffer avoidable consequences arising from poor conditions of service and lack of recognition.
“Nurses, who form majority of the frontline healthcare professionals in the society, are being subjected to hardship and diverse risks while performing their duties.”
Healthcare providers are working tirelessly; 24 hours like soldiers at the battlefield in genuine efforts to combat this novel disease.
“The consequences of not placing appropriate values on nurses according to their worth, have become so glaring and playing itself out in the current dispensation.
“As we continuously witnessing, lot of nurses are being neglected, ignored and not catered for,” she said.Israel said that NANNM, working under the Lagos State Government in tertiary, secondary and primary healthcare institutions, recognised and commended the government for its concerted efforts to win the fierce battle against COVID-19 pandemic.
“We stand by Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his clarion call on people of Lagos to religiously adhere to the stay at home order, maintenance of physical distancing and maintenance of personal and environmental hygiene, among others,” she said. (NAN)
