By Martha Agas
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Chapter, has decried assault on members by relatives of some patients.
Chairperson of the chapter, Mrs Victoria Samson, raised the concern during the maiden celebration of Emergency Nurses Day, at the hospital on Wednesday, in Jos.
According to Samson, nurses are always assaulted in the course of their duties because patients’ relatives believe they are slow in attending to the sick.
“We implore our management to beef up security at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit, to address assault of our members because some are always beaten up there,” she said.
She appealed for the establishment of laboratories at the units for quick investigation of emergency cases to speed up their treatment.
Samson also suggested the stationing of an ambulance bay to facilitate easy conveyance of patients to other units.
“It will address public interference because some people just want to take pictures of serious cases and this is against our ethics and an invasion of the patient’s privacy,” she said.
In her remarks, the Coordinator of Accident and Emergency Unit of JUTH, Mrs Paula Barnabas, said that the day was celebrated to acknowledge the services provided by nurses in the unit.
Barnabas described the theme of the celebration “Standing Strong”, as apt, following the numerous challenges of increasing work load, over flooding of the emergency room, and shortage of manpower.
“This unit is only for the bold and strong,” she said.
She thanked the nurses for their commitment to duties, and urged them to always exhibit patience, calmness under pressure and compassion while attending to patients.
The coordinator also thanked the management of JUTH for the approval of special allowances for the A&E nurses, saying it would boost their morale and push them to serve humanity more.
She appealed to the management to revisit the proposal for the establishment of an A&E Post Basic Institution in JUTH.
Barnabas, on behalf of the A&E nurses, donated items such as oxygen regulator, oxygen cylinder, patient monitor stand and patient gown.
Other items donated by the nurses included; a 12kg washing machine, digital blood pressure machines, infra non-contact thermometer and cubicle curtains.
In his remarks, the Ag Chief Medical officer of JUTH Dr Pokop Bupwatda, said that the management was doing its best to address the shortage of manpower, not only in the unit, but in the hospital generally.
Represented by the Ag Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Njem Miner, Bupwatda explained that JUTH was waiting for clearance by the Federal Government for recruitment address the dearth of manpower, and also assured them of re-organisation at the hospital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that 16 nurses were decorated with medals donated by a former patient of the unit, in recognition of their professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
NAN reports that the Emergency Nurses Day celebration originated in 1989 in Australia, and is marked in recognition of the hard work and dedication of emergency nurses worldwide.
It is celebrated annually on every second Wednesday of October. (NAN)
