Edmund Burke once wrote: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
An anonymous report reaching Nursingworld Nigeria has notified us that at 2pm today, 8 Nurses would be forcefully ejected from the NYSC Camp in Issele-Uku, Delta state.
In a show of public ridicule and professional humiliation, these nurses have been queried and arraigned before a camp court where a biased judgement was passed.The entire nurses at the camp are to be sent packing!
Their crime? they took a stand to demand their inclusion at the Health decision making table at the NYSC Camp.They asked to be included in the camp health screening committee, not for financial gains but in a bid to fight the apparent relegation of nurses to the back seat at decision making levels.A committee which comprised only of a Youth corper doctor and pharmacist.
This case presents an opportunity for Nigerian Nurse leaders to encourage and groom an active generation of nurses who would play an integral role in leading change. Be it at the student level or NYSC level,Nurse leaders must leverage on issues like this to inspire a new generation of nurses to believe that they are capable of making changes necessary to improve ineffectual systems.
Nurses' involvement at the boardroom starts with little steps like this.
Today would mark a sad day in our professional history if we remain mute and let the camp director Mr Chinwendu Chukwu have his way. Someone in authority needs to talk to the NYSC State coordinator before this issue blows out of proportion
Today at 2pm, if we remain silent in the face of this affront to our noble profession we would have sent a message. An explicit message that reads "NURSES ARE PUSHOVER!
At the end of her life, Florence Nightingale said, “May we hope that when we are all dead and gone, leaders will arise who have been personally experienced in the hard, practical work, the difficulties and the joys of organizing nursing reforms, and who will lead far beyond anything we have done.”
I urge all Nursing leaders at the Nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria, at the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Nurse leaders at all works of life to show solidarity and take a stand.
We must contribute and encourage reforms that take place in our lifetime.Silence is not an option!
The Delta State NYSC camp director Mr Chinwendu Chukwu could be reached on 08132065660