As part of efforts to strengthen effective nursing practice and ensure qualified nurses and midwives man Primary Health Care facilities, especially in hard-to-reach areas, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River State on Nursing, Dr. Esu Coco-Bassey, paid an advocacy visit to the Director General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCA), Dr. Vivian Mesembe Otu.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Coco-Bassey said his mission was to advocate for the employment and strategic deployment of more nurses, especially midwives, to PHCs, given the approval by His Excellency, Apostle Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, through the Local Government Service Commission.
He commended the DG for her efforts in the recent employment exercise where a few nurses were absorbed, but noted that the number still needs to be improved upon, considering the critical maternal and neonatal services offered by midwives.
He emphasized that the State Colleges of Nursing Sciences have been accredited by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to train competent midwives, and as such, their roles must not be ceded to persons without the requisite training and knowledge.
"We cannot continue to allow roles meant for trained midwives to be performed by those without the requisite knowledge and skill. Deploying qualified midwives to our PHCs is key to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the state," he said.
In her remarks, the Director General, Dr. Vivian Mesembe Otu, disclosed that when she assumed office, she met very few nurses in the system. As a pediatrician, she said she understands the indispensable role of nurses in maternal and child health and has since worked to reposition nurses, while also working to bring in doctors to strengthen the system, as everyone has a role to play.
She cautioned against those who think they should take over Primary Health Centres, noting that other professionals have special roles to play in patient care.
"The Governor does not want to hear that any mother or child died or suffered complications as a result of inadequate professionals and specialists," she stated.
Dr. Otu revealed that with the approval of 40 doctors to be employed, she will liaise with the Civil Service Commission and the Ministry of Health to deploy some to primary health care.
She called on nurses to show greater desire to work in primary health care services, observing that the gap between the newly employed nurses and the top nursing cadres is wide.
She also assured of effective training of student nurses in designated health care facilities where trained nurses will be available to mentor the younger ones.
She reaffirmed her commitment to work with the Office of the SA Nursing in line with the People First agenda of His Excellency, Apostle Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, to ensure all citizens receive adequate and quality healthcare in line with Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The visit had in attendance Heads of Department from the College of Nursing Sciences, Calabar and senior management staff of the Agency.
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