President, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Mr Adeniji Alani, on Tuesday, urged nurses taking care of COVID-19 patients to show love and affection to them.

Alani who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja urged the nurses to give such patients comfort as they took care of them.

According to him, nurses are at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight and are expected to spread love, affection and comfort to the patients in their care, and break the chain of the spread of the virus.

“I urge every nurse to be committed professionally, ethically, compassionately and be conscious at the same time in order not to be COVID-19 carriers.

“You should work restlessly to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, treat and bring comfort to the affected people and alleviate their sufferings.

“I advise you to do this with knowledge, skill, expertise and attention, bearing in mind the legal contract you have with the patient.

“You should bear in mind the duty of care that you owe the patients and as you know, you will give account of it,’’ he said.

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Alani said that nurses and midwives should conduct research to unveil the power of COVID-19.

“We must be in the lead in caring for the sick, bringing hope to the hopeless and being mother surrogate, teachers, counsellors and advocate people in matters relating to their health.

“The recognition given to nurses and midwives by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2020 should spur every nurse, including Nigeria nurses, to do more,’’ he said.

Newsmen recall that WHO designated 2020 as the Year of Nurse and Midwife, to mark the 200th birth anniversary of the progenitor of modern-day nursing/midwifery profession, Florence Nightingale.

“Nurses should know that they are holding very important position and in the face of the recognition by the world health body, among other professionals in the health sector.

“This is a very significant honour in this generation, 21st century; we see a world body, recognising and giving that glory to the attainment and success of universal health delivery.

“But nurses and midwives should know that no general can celebrate when war is still ongoing,’’ he stated.

Alani said that nurses and midwives should emulate Florence Nightingale, who, during many trying periods, especially at the Crimean war, won so many laurels for her outstanding performance.

“Nightingale won many awards and accolades of selfless, committed, high standard care and affection for the wounded soldiers and the public at large while doing that.

“We recall that there were outbreaks of diseases in the barracks during the Crimean war and many people were dying which attracted Florence Nightingale’s attention.

“With her first theory on environment, which stipulates that the environment in which you are determines a lot about your healthiness, she backed up the very early theory of epidemiology on cholera and gastroenteritis.

“Nightingale, with the government of the day, led a squad against cholera spread and saved thousands of lives, reducing mortality rate from over 30 per cent to six per cent,” he added.

Alani said that with the recognition WHO had given to nurses and midwives following what Nightingale did 200 years ago, COVID-19 was another situation, nurses must find solutions to through research.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAN