COVID-19 MESSAGE TO NURSES IN NIGERIA by Olabanji Joel

Covid-19 message to the Nurses in Nigeria by Olabanji Joel..... There are so many benefits attached to being responsible, though being responsible is measured with how one handles responsibilities but many more responsibilities will be bestowed on the tested and trusted responsible persons - Olabanji Joel. At this period of Covid-19 I will be so mean if I don't appreciate all health workers out there who are still available at the point of duty despite the suspension of various gatherings and activities even though the hazard allowance still remains five thousand naira (#5000). Nurses are at the front line of every health care system, first to get in contact with the patient and always with the patient, they are at a greater risk of being affected if there be an outbreak in the hospital. Let me point it out that some health professionals such as nurses working at Ondo State Teaching Hospital in Akure and Ondo town are working at this time without pay together with shortage of nurses at the facility. Now let's note that the nurses are not well remunerated, overworked and still owed salaries of going to 5months now. I heard about the strike that the unpaid young Nurses embarked upon sometimes last year and how the strike was sabotaged by the Deputy Head of Nursing Service of the hospital who called the workers to resume because the hospital needed them and she also merged wards together so that the available overworked Nurses can work more to cover up for those on strike. At this crucial period of the world, a Nursing leader was used against her own people, she gave query to those who went on strike and also sacked some of those who had their names on a letter wittten to the management. Please, who should fight for a better life for her junior ones if not her? Why should those protecting the lives of others be left to suffer? Is it that these people don't have responsibilities? These junior Nurses were forced to resume without receiving their full salary arrears and they are still risking thier lives to work at this period. I am pained and sad with the selfish and wicked leaders we have in many of our sectors these days, they are destroying our future because they believe they have nothing to lose but it will be nice of them to remember that they will need the care of the young ones they need to fight for when they get old. I need to point this issue out at this crucial period because we are still battling Lassa fever in the country with Ondo state being the most affected State. Therefore, expecting the unpaid and underpaid Nurses (when compared with co-health professionals working in the same facility) to risk their lives might be so impossible or very hard to comply with. Don't be amazed when you get to some facilities and you see some nurses acting angrily, it can be traced to frustration, anger and lack of job satisfaction. The present leaders in Nursing should note that they are product of yesterday's leadership and building on what they met on ground should be their priority, nothing stops any profession from demanding for what is theirs so why is Nusing with an exception? I know of some leaders who can tell their nurses to buy hand sanitizer and gloves to be used for patients because the management can't provide. If the hospital management can't provide then is it a must to carry the burden of the hospital? Must nurses take their lives because they want to care for others? Are nurses the only health care providers who really want to care for their patients? To the nursing leaders, please, think about the younger ones in the profession, think about us, we the young ones in the profession know that you don't have your children in the profession but what about those of us who are children to some people? We have parents, we have loved ones, we have responsibilities, please help us and if your hands are tied please open up and just take a bow honourably. To greater position comes with greater responsibilities, leaders are to serve their followers and be responsible to them not to torment them. To the young ones and the good leadres in the profession, we still have a long way to go and we must be ready to be responsible for our own future. Let's be ready to fight for what is right, let's also tread with caution, don't try to be a hero because the nurse who died during her course of duty to care for the first Ebola patient in Nigeria has not been recognized by NMCN, NANNM nor the Government of Nigeria, but one of our co-professionals who have leaders has been honoured and yearly honoured for loosing her life during the struggle to fight Ebola. In this period of Covid-19, please be wise!!!! I am Olabanji Joel, A Nurse, A Writer and A Socialist.