….Soludo Honoured As Nurses Friendly Governor
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Chairman of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Anambra State Council, Comrade Onwuka Edith, JP, on Thursday, 20th June 2024, made History as a multi-million Naira Nurses House was unveiled under her leadership.
In her address of welcome, Comrade Onwuka said the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives was a professional organization cum trade union registered under the Trade Union Act of 1978 and had the mandate to unionize and enforce strict professionalism to all nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) who were practicing in the federal, state, local government and private sector.
‘Today, we have gathered to witness the opening ceremony of the Nurses House which notably was one of my mandates promised to the Nurses of Anambra State when we came on board,’ she said.
The NANNM boss stated that the House was built through prudent management of the Check-Off dues deducted from the salaries of their members working at various establishments within the state, noting that her administration did not levy any nurse from the beginning of the edifice to the successful completion.
‘We sacrificed our allowances and demonstrated a high level of diligence and transparency in the management of the 30% of our Check-Off dues as they accrue to the state’s share of our Union to get this project done.
‘We also wish to appreciate the past governor, His Excellency, Willie Obiano, for giving us financial support when the project was ongoing. The National Headquarters of our association also gave support when they saw the zeal and commitment we demonstrated to ensure that the project was actualized.
‘The Unit Council of our association also gave us a waiver to use their 20% rebate Check-Off dues for 18 months without refund. We highly appreciate them for their kind sacrificial gesture and pray for God to reward them bountifully in folds.
‘Mr Governor, may we remind the State Government that it had been in our tradition to support the state government by diligently executing our duties at our various places of assignment.
‘We want to use this opportunity to officially congratulate you as a body for emerging as the Executive Governor of our dear State, Anambra. It is also an opportunity for us to express our appreciation to you for your unassuming, outstanding performances within this short period in office as the Executive Governor of our state, despite the limited resources available to you in the face of very high inflation in the country.
‘Our appreciation is unlimited and our joy knows no bounds because, amidst your tight schedule, you spared time to honour our invitation for this official unveiling of Anambra State Nurses House. Mr Governor, your presence speaks volumes and also shows how passionate you are about nurses and workers of Anambra State,’ Onwuka said.
Comrade Onwuka who doubles as the Anambra State Immunization Officer (SIO), said it was a well-known fact that nurses constituted not less than 65% of the total workforce in the Healthcare Industry, saying that it was their numerical strength that they had been using positively and professionally to ensure high quality healthcare services to the people of Anambra State and to the support of healthcare policies of the state government.
‘To mention but a few; in 2011 when Anambra State encountered its worst flooding disaster, nurses did not shrink (sic) back, but devoted their time to care and alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims by rendering professional services and material support to those in the IDP Camps. In the same vein, during the Ebola and Corona virus Pandemics, nurses were there, supporting the state government in controlling and fighting the dreaded viruses. Nurses also donated infection prevention and control commodities to fight the viruses.
‘Mr Governor, we believe so much in your administration and will use this opportunity to thank you for the following achievements in the health sector: approval for building of world class College of Nursing Sciences in Ekwulobia for training of highly skilled nurses; establishment of Nursing and Midwifery Council Office in Anambra State; employment of 500 nurses and midwives into general hospitals and primary health care centres; outstanding performances of our student nurses across all the Departments of Nursing and Colleges in their final exam; example, College of Nursing, Nkpor, Nov. 2022 = 99.7%; College of Nursing, Adazi, Nov. 2022Â = 100%; College of Nursing, Amichi, Nov 2023 = 100%; Department of Nursing, NAUTH, Nnewi, Nov 2023 = 100%; 10% increase in salary of workers,’ she reeled out.
Speaking on the challenges, Onwuka cited stagnation of single qualified nurses/midwives in CONHESS 7, an act, she noted, had no back up rationale; non-implementation of national approved, gazetted and harmonized scheme of service for nurses and university graduate nurses; non-implementation of 25% increase in CONHESS by National Income, Salary and Wages Commission and non-implementation of 2016 unified scheme of service for nurses.
‘Mr Governor, may we use this opportunity to make a passionate appeal for your consideration which will curb the incessant migration of highly and experienced nurses outside the state, otherwise known as JAKPA Syndrome, leading to brain drain.
‘Most of the issues border on career progression; promotion of single qualified nurses to CONHESS 10 as done in other states: adoption of harmonized scheme for nurses and university graduate nurses which was gazetted by Office of the Head of Service of Federation in 2021; implementation of 25% increase in consolidated health salary structure (CoNHESS) gazetted in 2022 by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission; placement and recognition of the officer nomenclature to all categories/grades in nursing; yearly uniform allowance of N20, 000 for nurses for sowing of uniform as was captured in public service rule; appointment of nurses and midwives into political positions in the state
‘Finally, donation of vehicle/bus for day to day running of the association. Mr Governor, we once again welcome you to our house, The Nurses House in Anambra State, and also congratulate you for becoming a great Ambassador of Nursing. We promise to continue to partner with you and to make Anambra State proud of us always,’ Onwuka concluded.
Addressing the nurses who trooped out en masse to witness the epoch-making event, the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, commended the leadership of NANNM in the state, led by Comrade Onwuka, for their dexterity, perseverance, and prudent management of their meagre resources.
Governor Soludo acknowledged the positive impacts of the nurses in the state, saying that their importance in the healthcare system could not be overstated, charging the nurses to continue to support the leadership of NANNM in Anambra State.
He added that they had performed and deserved to be supported and encouraged.
The state’s number one citizen, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr Afam Obidike, said he was overwhelmed by the quality of nurses he met on ground, even as he promised to look into the challenges and find a way to solve them.
Earlier, the National President of NANNM, Comrade Mr. Michael E. Nnachi, showered encomiums on the leadership, for their vision and unwavering commitment to the betterment of their profession. He also commended the members for working tirelessly to bring the project to fruition and urged them to maintain the tempo.
In their separate speeches, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Anambra State Council, Comrade (Sir) Humphrey Emeka Nwafor; the President of NULGE, Anambra State, Comrade Chikwelu Adigwe Samson; the Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, Dr Joe Akabuike; the Matron in-Charge of Dialysis Unit, COOUTH, Amaku, Awka, Comrade Ilodibe Assumpta Obianuju, appreciated the NANNM executive led by Comrade Onwuka for what they had been able to achieve and for the way and manner they went about their activities.
