UCH Nurses’ Week: CMD describes nurses as backbone of clinical care
By Adewale Owoade
The Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, has described nurses as the backbone of clinical care in the world.
Otegbayo stated this while declaring open the UCH School of Nursing Week 2023 with the theme: “Nursing with a Difference: Roles of Nurses in Curbing Quackery in Today’s Healthcare System”.
At the event organised by the National Association of Nigerian Student Nurses and Midwives (NANSNM), UCH Chapter, Otegbayo said that hospital services will be better if there are good nurses.
“Nurses are the backbone of clinical care, other professionals in the health sector just interact with patients in a matter of minutes but nurses are with the patients all the time.
“That is key in terms of the care that they receive.
“Any hospital which rises in terms of clinical care, it will be because of the good nurses and if it is going to go down, it will be because of nurses.
“I want to say that it is good as you, student nurses, are doing this. If you want a tradition or culture to last you have to involve the youths.
“I must appreciate all the nurses’ leaders here for involving you the students right from the very onset to know what is right,” he said.
The Keynote Speaker, Dr Isaiah Olabisi, who was represented by Esther Olabisi, cautioned against quackery in the nursing profession.
He described a quack as any individual that provides healthcare services without the requisite academic qualification and one who does so either fraudulently or out of ignorance.
“We have people who still do not know that they have to go to school to be trained to become a nurse.
“We have statutory bodies that regulate the practice of every profession and nursing is not excluded.
“We have the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
“In general, if you see any individual who is practicing or who claims to be a healthcare professional in a country and does not possess a legal requirement by this statutory body, that person is a quack.
“Nurses, we must take a giant step in combating this silent cankerworm that has destroyed the healthcare system,” Olabisi said.
Also, the guest speaker, Olayiinka Adekola, said fighting quackery is a collective effort and should be taken seriously.
“If you want to fight against quackery in our health system in the country, as nurses we can’t do it alone; we must collaborate; it’s everybody’s responsibility although nurses will play a pivotal role.
“Together we can build a healthcare system in Nigeria that is resilient, trustworthy and dedicated to delivering quality care for all.
“Empowering us, we must say no to quackery, we must uphold professional excellence in Nigeria,” Adekola said.
In their separate remarks, the Principal, UCH School of Nursing, Dr Adenike Olaniyi, and Head of Nursing Education, UCH, Dr Pauline Guobadia, said that creating awareness concerning quackery is timely.
Also, the Chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), UCH branch, Comrade Funmi Faminu, said nurses must not rest until the bad eggs are flushed out of the profession.
In his closing remarks, the president of the association, Emmanuel Oriowo, thanked all stakeholders in the healthcare sector and organisers for the success of the event.
Awards were given to outstanding personalities in the health sector. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
