Posted on: Wed 17-11-2021

The Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State Council, Mr Olurotimi Awojide, has stressed the importance of nurses in health care delivery.

Awojide said this on the sidelines of the Nurses Day celebration held in Lagos on Monday.

The event was also used to recognise a nurse at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Oluwatoyin Akinlade, for taking delivery of a pregnant woman while in transit.

 He said, “Nurses Day is to recognise the enormous contributions of nurses to health care. We are also appreciating our nurses for their role during the pandemic.

“Nurses are critical to health care delivery; we are the link between patients and other health workers. If there is a medical error on the part of the physician, it is the nurses that will notice it.

“We are appreciating Nurse Akinlade, because ordinarily, after the day’s work, it possible she was tired, she may have recommended that the woman should be rushed to a nearby hospital. We are recognising her for the passion she exhibited to save the pregnant woman and her baby.”

Responding, Akinlade said it was erroneous for Nigerians to see nurses as people without empathy.

She said, “I was a commuter in a bus; so, I helped a woman who was also a traveler to deliver a baby. Every person would have thought about looking the other way, but when I saw this woman, I knew she was ready and there was nothing I could do at the moment than to help her.

“I had earlier introduced myself as a nurse when we driver wanted to buy fuel, so, all eyes were on me. I knew it was imminent for me to help deliver the baby.

“I don’t think nurses lack empathy; maybe people have been meeting quack nurses or those they call auxiliary nurses. Patients should also learn to be calm when they come to the hospital, they should not come with an attitude to fight. Nurses are empathic and I’m sure when people meet the professional nurses, they will know nurses don’t lack empathy.”

Akinlade said the recognition by her colleagues would motivate her to do more for humanity.

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