NEW YEAR GOODWILL MESSAGE TO ALL UNIVERSITY GRADUATE
NURSES FOR THEIR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF PREVAILING SITUATIONS.
PREAMBLE
Dear
Colleagues, the National leadership of the University Graduates of Nursing
Science Association (UGONSA), a.k.a, Graduates Nurses Association of Nigeria
(GNAN), expressed her sincere gratitude to God Almighty for how far He has led
us, and for all the successes we have achieved individually, as an association
and indeed the Nursing Profession as a whole in the year 2022.
THE SITUATION
Taking
a retrospective view of where we were as a profession a few years ago up to
early this year, and where we are today, we have a course to say thank you to God
for all you have done for us.
The
situation of graduate nurses in Nigeria over the past few years was pitiable
and that of regret for taking a university voyage in the first place, we were
regarded as, and indeed placed as a second-class group of health professionals,
we were the laughing stock in the healthcare sector even among our very
colleagues who are without BNSc degree. We were so dispirited that hopes were
fading, and the level of brain drain among health and medical workers
especially nurses leading to the exodus migration of nurses to the western
world for greener pastures was and is an expression of our situation. It was as
if our voices were not heard despite celebrating “NURSES A VOICE TO LEAD”, The
situation was best described by the Chief Medical Director of one of our Teaching
Hospitals where he said, “three to four out of every letter he receives on
daily basis was that of the resignation of appointment from mostly nurses” in
his facility. Dear colleagues, in all these, we were resilient and demonstrated
courage, keeping the faith alive in our struggles for a better nursing
profession.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Professional
colleagues, it’s no longer news that after a long period of struggles, professional
patience and perseverance, a circular Ref. No. HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/CND.l00/S.8/72
dated 27th June 2022 was issued from the office of the Head of
Service of the Federation conveying the approval of the National Council on
Establishment (NCE) for Enhanced Entry Point for Nursing Officer Cadre (SGL10-17)
from SGL 9 to SGL 10 upon completion of the one-year internship, and NYSC
scheme, effective 28th January 2022. The association in her usual
way reacted promptly by issuing a follow-up letter with the circular and
circulated it to almost all health facilities for urgent implementation of the
circular.
The
association in the year under review hosted its 20th National Annual
Profession Conference and Scientific Update at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Capital,
where there was a change of mantle of leadership to the current national
leaders,
The
year equally witnessed the implementation of the above circular in most federal
health institutions where nurses with B.NSc degree post internship and NYSC
were appointed into Nigerian civil service on SGL 10 (CONHESS 9) in parity with
our counterpart in the healthcare sector, like Medical Laboratory Scientist,
Pharmacist, Medical Radiographers, Physiotherapist etc, as against CONHESS 7
& 8 that was the case in the previous years. Above all, we are all alive to
witness the actualization of our long struggle.
CHALLENGES AND FURTHER STRUGGLES
In
spite of the above achievements, the association still believe that there is a
lot more to fight for, these include:
i.
The struggle for implementation
of the cited circular in all federal, state and private institutions and
facilities that engage the services of graduate nurses,
ii.
Adjustment of SGL of
nurses with B.NSc degrees who were already employed before the 28th
of January, 2022 without evidence of internship participation.
iii.
Placement of newly
employed nurses with B.NSc degrees without evidence of participation in
internship scheme on the new base grade (SGL 10)
iv.
Placement of nurse interns
on SGL 9 as the case with other core healthcare professionals
v.
Commencement of the
struggle for call duty allowance for all B.NSc degree holders as the case with
other core healthcare professionals
vi.
Collaboration with our
mother association to push for an increased percentage of shift allowance for
graduate nurses.
Dear
colleagues, as we acknowledged the fact that Rome was not built in a day, yet the
above struggles speak to the issue that there is more to be done.
As
we celebrate the new year, let us be thankful to God who has been so gracious
towards us, and pray that the year 2023 and beyond shall lead us to a place of
more accomplishment as an association and profession.
For
all of you who have stood by the association and indeed the nursing profession
all through the struggles and years, we salute your courage and pray that you
continue to join hands together to enthrone the nursing profession of our dream.
Most importantly, Let’s ensure that we translate the university degrees,
knowledge and skills we acquired in our various institutions into qualitative
client and patient care as they are the reason for our professional existence.
From
all the National Leadership of UGONSA, we say HAPPY NEW YEAR to you; we wish all of you a Prosperous new year and
years ahead as you continue to Make a Positive Change wherever you are.
UGONSA!
MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE.
Signed
Nurse
Ojo Opeyemi I.
National President
Nurse Philip O. Eteng
National Secretary
No comments:
Post a Comment