Facilitate positive change in Nigeria’s health sector, Army Nursing Officer urges Nurses

NIGERIAN nurses have been charged to harness their professional ideologies and passion to facilitate necessary change at the three tiers of government toward attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UCH).

Brig.-Gen. AI Onovo-Okeke, Head of Army College of Nursing, Yaba, Lagos, made the plea at a three-day 2019 Nurses Scientific Conference, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos.

Onovo-Okeke spoke on the theme: “Nurses: A Voice to Lead Health for All.”

In her keynote address, she said: “At all levels, and in all places, nurses have a pivotal role to play in creating and sustaining a healthier society.

“The changing needs of the 21st Century mean that nurses have a greater role to play in future.

“New and innovative types of services are needed; such must be holistic, community or home-based, people-centred, with an increased focus on prevention and making better use of technology.

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“Maximising nurses’ contributions will require that nurses are properly deployed, valued and included in policy and decision-making.

“Nurses training prepared them to respond to the health needs of people in all settings and throughout the lifespan.

“Their roles are critical in achieving global mandates of Universal Health Coverage and the sustainable development.’’

According to WHO, Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need without exposing to financial hardship.

Onovo-Okeke said: “Expected benefits include better life expectancy, reduction in mortality rates and improved health and wellbeing.

“Objectives of UHC include quality healthcare services, equity in access to health services and protection against financial-risk.

“The major challenge of envisaged is the achievement of full implementation.

“When UHC is achieved, poverty will reduce, jobs will be created, economies will grow, communities will be protected against disease outbreaks, even women’s economic opportunities will advance and children’s health and development will follow suit.’’

Earlier, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Wife of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, urged nurses to be good ambassadors of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.

Sanwo-Olu said: “Health Insurance Scheme is a strategic initiative of the state government designed to bring about affordable, comprehensive and unhindered quality healthcare services for all residents.

“Since the role of nurses in the medical field and treatment of patients is critical, it is also important for practitioners to continually discharge their responsibilities with an absolute sense of loyalty, dedication and professionalism.

“Health is wealth and more importantly health is not free. Nurses need to take a leading role in ensuring the success of the scheme.”

Earlier, LUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chris Bode, said that theme of the conference speaks about the prominent role of nurses in the healthcare team working hard to achieve universal coverage where no one was allowed to fall through the cracks.