Stakeholders decries poor health condition of Ogun nurses

Stakeholders in the health sector in Ogun State have expressed concern over the poor health condition of midwives and birth attendants in the state.

The stakeholders, which comprise medical directors of private hospitals in the state, lamented that many birth attendants and midwives were suffering from health issues such as malnutrition, anemia, and fatigue.

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Speaking at a one-day Health Workshop organised by the Accurate Creative Minds Foundation held in Abeokuta, the state capital, the experts noted that the health of the workers was crucial to ensuring the health of the state’s newborns and that steps must be taken to improve their working condition.

They, however, emphasised the importance of midwives and traditional birth attendants prioritising their health.

The Medical Director of Oasis Hospital in the Ifo area of the state, Timothy Olugbode expressed concern over what he described as a lack of attention by healthcare providers in the private sector to take care of their health.

He stressed the need for healthcare providers to maintain a balance between personal health and profession.

According to Olugbode, healthcare providers’ utmost importance is prioritising their mental and physical well-being.

He said, “It is crucial for you to regularly monitor your blood pressure, blood counts, ECG, and other vital signs.”

He, however, urged young medical practitioners planning to leave Nigeria to reconsider the decision and prioritise improving the healthcare system of the country.

Similarly, the Medical Director of Moonlight Medicals, Abeokuta, Akeem Ajiboye admonished the healthcare providers to manage their social problems very well.
While warning them to shun self-medication, the physician urged them to ensure they are stable both in mind and body.

He said, “Healthcare providers need to know how to take care of themselves. Some of the ways they can take care of themselves are by organising programmes like this. They should also make sure that their brain is sound, they should also not have social problems, someone with social problems would find it difficult to care for a patient, also spiritual problems we also want them to be free from spiritual problems. If you are having headaches you should carry out tests to know the cause of the headache, you should go for medical check-ups regularly, they shouldn’t let the case worsen before going to the hospital anyone. My advice is that they should be very mindful of their health before it becomes a problem. There is no way one can be busy, that would have no time for him or herself.”

Similarly, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, had urged health workers to pay more attention to their mental and physical health needs as they deliver healthcare services to citizens.

Ogboye in a statement signed by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director, Public Affairs in the ministry, noted that improving quality and effective healthcare service delivery are a direct reflection of the mental, physical health and well-being of health workers.

Ogboye encouraged healthcare professionals to pay adequate attention to their health just as they give professional care to their patients.

PUNCH/Wura