NANNM tasks FG, states on provision of equipment to check COVID-19 spread

The Delta state chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) on Thursday, called on the state and federal governments to provide facilities, and materials needed to check the spread of coronavirus at the point of entry into hospitals.

The points of entry, the association said, include the accident/emergency unit, the out-patient department and other first points of the contact of patients with hospital workers.

At a media briefing in Asaba, the Chairman of the association, Mrs. Alice Ikpen said that these points of entry in hospitals were the gates to hospitals and any attempt to neglect these points of entry may lead to dire health consequences.

Mrs. Ikpen while emphasising that nurses and midwives should not take the risk to work in COVID-19 high risk zones without such protective materials, added that “no protective equipment, no work.

“No nurse or midwife should risk his or her life while rendering services. It’s our prayers that nurses render service to patients in a safe environment and return back to their family safe.”

She assured that the association was irrevocably committed to encouraging nurses and midwives in the state to do their work and also boost their morale.

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Mrs. Ikpen lamented that health personnel lack sufficient face masks and called on the management of various hospitals to provide more than enough for the health workers.

She said: “At Asaba Specialist Hospital, which is designated COVID-19 treatment centre, the patients were responding to treatment, while some in isolation were waiting for further results.

“But, there were insufficient face masks for the health workers. These are areas we are very much concerned and we want the state government to look into the situation and ensure the right things are done.”