ANAMBRA State is currently hosting the 15-Biennial Nursing Leaders Conference. The five-day event holding at Marble Arch Hotel, Awka was declared open by Joe Akabuike, the commissioner for Health.

The event has as its theme: “Repositioning Nursing and Midwifery Workforce for the Achievement of Universal Health Coverage, UHC.’’

According to Akabuike the theme is apt and in line with the mission and vision of the state in health sector.

He recalled that the state had in 2014 redirected its mission and vision toward achieving the universal health coverage mandate.

He described the nursing profession as an essential part of the health sector, stressing that nurses play critical roles in the overall process of care-giving in the health sector.

“We cannot talk of Health without Nurses and Nursing administration; and we cannot talk of wealth without considering health as it is said that Health is wealth.

“Nursing profession is dynamic, task demanding and requires transparency in discharge professional duties,’’ Akabuike noted.

The commissioner commended the nurses for their commitment in the discharge of their duties.

He thanked the national leadership of the Nursing profession for choosing Anambra state as the host of this year’s Biennial Conference.

The health commissioner also thanked the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for their role during the accreditation of six nursing schools in Anambra.

In a speech, Isaac Adewole, the minister of Health, represented by Joseph Amedu, the director, Health Services, urged the nurses to always ensure that quality services were rendered to patients.

According to the minister, the Federal Government has officially launched the Basic Healthcare Provision Funds Reforms in January, 2019.

He noted that the Basic Healthcare Provision Funds Reform was the medium for providing basic health services to Nigerians.

To achieve UHC and SDGs, the minister advocated for continued engagement of nurses as frontline health workers.

The minister officially launched the 5-Year Strategic Plan of the Nursing Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Omolola Irinoye of the Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife in a key note address said that “adequate public investment in health sector reduces financial impoverishment.’’

“This is by shifting cost away from out-of-pocket expenditure and facilitates pre-payment risk pooling mechanism.’’

Irinoye stated that “UHC should initiate a robust healthcare market that will create many jobs for Nigerians within the public and private sector.’’

Faruk Umar Abubakar, the secretary-general/registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, thanked Governor Willie Obiano for hosting the conference.

He added that the aim of the conference was to bring together Nursing leaders in Nigeria to discuss some current issues that had implications for nursing education.

He also assured Nigerians that the outcome of the conference would help in articulating strategies for achievement of UHC and SDGs.

Goodwill messages were given by Dominica Akpati, the director, Nursing Services, Ministry of Health, and others.

The Six-Day Conference which is ongoing would end on April 5.

Key Papers presented addressed the issues of “Leadership and Management in Nursing Education and Practice, and building the next Generation of Nursing Leaders in Nigeria.”

– Apr. 5, 2019 @ 17:12 GMT |