UNILAG inducts 28 nurses, seeks investment in nursing

The College of Medicine (CMUL), University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Thursday inducted 28 nurses just as it called for increased investment in the nursing profession.

The induction was the fifth nursing induction and award ceremony, with the theme: “Our Nurses. Our Future: Caring For Nurses Strengthens Economies”.

The Provost of the College, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, in his welcome address, said Nigeria needs to increase capacity development by investing more in the profession.

Oremosu said there was the need to invest more in training of the nurses, stressing their importance to the healthcare manpower structure.

“The nurses are key component of the healthcare manpower structure, hence the need for the country to invest more in their training to encourage the nursing profession.

“So, the more nurses we have, the more we are able to keep our people healthy and able to save a lot of money in terms of indirect costs to making healthcare and the economy stronger for the nation,” Oremosu said.

Oremosu urged the inductees to abide by the integrity and ethics of the profession whether practicing “in-country or out-country”.

He also advised them to focus on their career development and always ensure that patient’s care are upmost in their minds.

Prof. Prisca Adejumo, the Pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, described nurses as the backbone of the nation healthcare system.

Adejumo, also the guest lecturer, said nurses’ impacts, voices and perspectives were crucial in shaping policies and practices that impacts patient’s care.

She emphasised the need to adequately equip nurses with necessary empowerment, education and training for better outcome of their services.

She decried the fact that the nation’s health system was currently facing a nursing deficit due to the increasing “Japa syndrome”.

“The nurses being the largest part of the healthcare industry makes it necessary for more attention to be paid to them.

“Basically, the nurses need all the empowerment, education and training that they can get to be able to function optimally.

“Similarly, if nurses are made to be satisfied with what they do; being given the conducive environment to operate with appropriate renumeration, good security and other incentives.

“Sincerely, many nurses will not be willing to operate outside the country.
“But if the ‘take home pay’ cannot take home, the security is not guaranteed and the environment is not conducive, almost all nurses will look for greener pastures abroad.

“So, let the country begin to pay more attention to the nurses and look inward to create a conducive working environment in order to retain the nurses,” Adejumo said.

The Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Mr Ndagi AI-Hassan, reiterated that nurses as patients advocates must balance their actions in the delivery of patient’s care.

AI-Hassan encouraged the nurses to further hone their skills, expand and extend their horizons as they continued to maintain the tempo.

He also reminded them of the core values of the profession which included; respect, empathy, excellence and commitment.

“As registered nurses, treat every individual with respect; continuously develop your clinical skills, work in harmony and maintain effective communication.

“Above all, prioritise self-care and wellbeing to be able to care for yourselves in order to care for others,” AI-Hassan said.

The event featured recognition and presentation of awards to the best graduating students from the department.

The overall best graduating student, Ms Jimoh Adefunke, appreciated the college management, parents, guardians and well-wishers for providing the platform and support for their training.

Adefunke tasked the inductees on excellence as they progress in their career development.