Nurses and midwives, under the auspices of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Plateau State chapter, recently threatened to go on strike. Their threat, notwithstanding the continued spread of coronavirus in Nigeria, is over alleged non-provision of Personal Protective Equipment for the health workers. Chairperson of the council in the state, Briskila Dabit, tells JAMES ABRAHAM about the planned strike and other issues affecting the healthcare sector in the state

Nurses are among the front-line workers in the care for coronavirus patients. How prepared are your people at this time of crisis?

Naturally, nurses are the most hit during this era of coronavirus because they are in the forefront. When you also talk about the population in a hospital set-up, they are in the majority. Sometimes, you can see between 10 and 20 nurses to just two or three doctors. That is the situation in most health facilities in Plateau State and elsewhere in Nigeria. But even in the face of the danger, we cannot abandon our patients.

Your group recently threatened to go on strike over lack of protective gear for members, how bad is the situation?

It is true that I addressed a press conference over the matter but I did not say that we were going on strike. I only instructed nurses not to attend to any patient if personal protective equipment is not given – that is if they don’t have it or if the government does not make it available for them in order not risk their lives by attending to patients with suspected cases of coronavirus.

I told nurses that for them to attend to a COVID-19 patient, they must have a complete PPE. When those things are in place, there is no need to go on strike. We are here to save lives. After all, those who are sick are our brothers, sisters, relations, husbands, wives and so on. As nurses, we are out to help but we want the government to also cooperate with us and ensure that the necessary things we need to fight this coronavirus safely are made available.

How long has that been going on as people are wondering why you are just speaking out now?

We have to complain now because we don’t understand what is happening with the plans and other arrangements being put in place by the state government regarding the fight against the coronavirus. There were some committees set up by the government, including central planning and sub-committees and nurses, who are in the forefront of taking care of the patients, are not being carried along. As I said initially, we are in the majority when you talk about health care. Go to Jos University Teaching Hospital and you will discover that the majority of the health professionals there are nurses. If you go to Plateau State specialist hospitals, you will find the same thing. You will also find the same thing in other health facilities across the state. And all the nurses in those places have been calling and complaining to me that they don’t have this and that. There is no PPE for them.

https://punchng.com/plateau-nurses-get-n1000-each-as-monthly-hazard-allowance-dabit-state-nurses-association-chair/?amp=1&__twitter_impression=true

Dats what has been obtainable all dis while.. Some other states get 1500.. Instead of d Federal govt and d various state govts quickly upgrade and improve their package especially in d light of d severity of covid 19, dey are. Usy lining theor pockets in d name of relief distribution to citizens while those at d frontline of d battle are ill equipped, ill motivated and have to work under terrible conditions

What's this compared to amount politicians get as sitting allowance.....see... something is seriously wrong with us in this country....black people ehn

No wonder our medical practitioners are flying abroad

Why are Nigerian government so wicked....

1k for hazard allowance..is this compared to what they pay each governor as wardrobe allowance?


This country is finished

They are ridiculing the noble profession. What is N1000?

And the politicians will increase their own allocations and still loot.... No wonder most sane doctors who have d change go abroad and never come back

babyfaceafrica:
And the politicians will increase their own allocations and still loot.... No wonder most sane doctors who have d change go abroad and never come back

I invite you to this this thread, it will favour you and be a part of the revolution.

https://www.nairaland.com/5788677/naira-youth-revolutionary-party-nyrp