Abuja – The Nurses and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has called for the inclusion of Nurses in policy making.
The council also called for improved funding for the sector.
Mrs. Elizabeth Azuike, Acting Registrar of the council, made the appeal at a two-day conference to mark the 2015 International Day of Nurses in Abuja.
Azuike, who described Nurses as the single largest component of the health workforce, said they are well positioned to do more while providing quality care and optimal patient outcome.
According to her, nurses been the largest healthcare profession, are key to leading change from the frontline toward equity, universal health coverage and ultimately improved global health outcomes.
“It is imperative that nurses develop a proper understanding of healthcare financing, budgeting, resource allocation and strategic planning.
“Drawing on their professional legacy as patient advocates, patient care experts and focus on community, nurses are ideally positioned to make major contribution to sharpening health policies that is underpinned by equity cost effectiveness.
“Their close interaction with healthcare consumers in a variety of settings gives a good understanding of health needs, how environmental factors affect their clients and how those clients respond to different services and interventions.
“Yet nurses often lack support from policy makers or funds to introduce innovations in care,’’ Azuike said.
Azuike explained that improving the quality of healthcare and access health services depend on the extent to which nurses are mobilised to be cost effective and care effective.
However, she enjoined them to be adequately prepared to help in shaping policy and work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, among others.
The International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 12 with this year’s theme “Nurses – A force for change – care effective – cost effective’’
