NAF Advocates For Adequate Infrastructure to Improve Nursing

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), which celebrated World Nurses Day 2022 with the rest of the world, called for adequate infrastructure to be put in place to enhance the nursing profession in Nigeria. A celebration of World Nurses Day was kicked off at the NAF hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, under the theme “A Voice to Lead-Investing in Nursing and Respecting Rights to Secure Global Health”.

As he addressed the nurses at the NAF Base, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, said, “When you look at the record of the number of nurses that are required to adequately take care of patients, it is fast depleting. This is because nurses have become like an endangered species.” Abubakar, represented by the Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, highlighted the need for infrastructure required to have adequate nurses who will be positive enablers in the healthcare system.

He acknowledged that with a systematic approach, it still takes a lot of years to train nurses. “We must invest in the infrastructure in order to attract people to the nursing profession.”

He recommended a review of nurses’ monthly and annual salary and described their efforts in the society as unquantifiable. Henceforth, he encouraged the nurses to see themselves as worthy ambassadors, rendering significant services to humanity.

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Commodore PA Yekwe, the Centre Director of Coordination and representative of the Commandant Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), AVM IG Lubo, repeated the views of the AOC. According to him, “Nurses are leaving the country because of the attractiveness outside. We need to invest in them by building the infrastructure. We need to entice them so that people will be attracted to the profession. We need to increase their remuneration and improve their training here and abroad. I believe that with time the condition of the country will improve and nurses will eat the fruit of their labour.”

Air Commodore Azubuike Chukwuka, the Commander, 661 NAF Hospital, also called for regular training for nurses. He says, “The nursing profession is almost going extinct. Nurses are in short supply. The nurses should be better taken care of,” says Chukwuka.

While he agreed that the medical profession is constantly evolving, he also emphasised on the need for continuous training of in-house nurses and otherwise, “Nurses should not despair. They should continue to do what is right even when the remuneration is not enough. They should rather embrace the profession as a calling and service to humanity and God.”

During the programme, the nursing profession was portrayed as special, considering their daily interaction with society. Hence, the profession rides on six core values that aid better service delivery. They include care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, and commitment.