Okon Bassey in Uyo
The Akwa Ibom state government has warned newly employed nurses and midwives in the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHDA) that they would be made to account for any unnecessary death of patients in their care.
The government also urged them not to avoid posting to rural areas and remain committed to the oath of the nursing profession aimed at rendering service to humanity by saving lives unconditionally.
Chairman, Governing Board of the agency , Dr Martins Akpan, gave the warning at a three-day orientation course for newly employed nurses and an eight-day training on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) to select midwives.
The training, in conjunction with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), was carried out under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and Human Resources for Health (HRH) Intervention funds.
Akpan stressed that the agency would no longer accept excuses and indolence for the death of babies and mothers.
While noting that the programmes were refresher courses, especially, for the retired and serving ones among them, the chairman stated that more was required of healthcare providers at the primary healthcare level.
Akpan charged participants in particular and all PHC workers in the state to bring their professionalism to bear, while being diligent, committed and compassionate in the discharge of their duties.
The chairman opined that with the provision of quality and affordable health care services at the PHC Centres, the narrative will change, in line with the focus of the Governor Umo Eno-led administration.
Executive Secretary, AKSPHCDA, Dr. Eno Attah, while emphasising on diligence to work, however, frowned on officers’ complaints and rejections of postings to health centres they describe as being too rural.
“No matter how remote the location of a primary health facility is, so long as people live there, those people still need health care services and it is incumbent on health workers to provide those services,” Attah said.
