CBC Health Services and CNA Create Branch for Nurses of the CBC Health Services
The Director of the CHC Health Services accompanied by the President and Vice of the Cameroon Nurses Association have together launched the CBC Health Services Nurses and Midwives Chapter of the Cameroon Nurses Association. The creation was during the celebration of International Nurses Day commemorated on May 12, 2023, under the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future” at the Nkwen Baptist Hospital Hall. The event brought together delegates from the different hospitals for the Twin event.
In an address from the Director of the CHC Health Services, Nurses were called upon to bear in mind the six Cs of Nursing, which are care, compassion, courage, communication, commitment, and competence which form the basis of compassionate care. Representing the Director of the CBC Health Services, the Chief Medical Officer of Nkwen Baptist Hospital Dr. Nana Christopher, in an address exalted the Nurses to make a special effort to apply the six Cs in their work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients. He added that International Nurses Day is significant because it is the Birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is known as the mother of modern nursing. The Lady with the Lamb as she is fondly referred to set the premise around which nursing practice has been built. The Director beckoned the Nurses to draw inspiration around this great woman while encouraging them to register in the newly created association. He was proud of their leaders and appreciated them for championing the creation of the association given that the Nurses constitute the biggest professional team of the health services and cover the hospital 24 hours daily, throughout the year. You are the heart of the hospital he affirmed as he accompanied the other dignitaries from the Cameroon Nurses Association to cut the ribbon to signify its creation. The Director however challenged the Nurses to conduct research, read professional literature, and gather new knowledge so as to share with colleagues in the association meetings.
Earlier before the launching, the Nurses received greetings and encouragement from Mr. Nkwan Jacob who has been very instrumental in the creation of the association since 2012. In his words, he reiterated the importance of identifying with their professional association noting that the CBC Health Services has taken the right decision in the right direction. Mr. Nkwan highlighted the importance of identifying with their professional association, especially for clinical professionals given that it is beneficial to the employer and the patients. To him, the 11 years of sensitization have not been easy but he is happy that the Dream has come true. He called on them to actively participate by registering in the association as how far they will go will be determined by their actions.
On his part, the National President of the Cameroon Nurses Association (CAN) Mr. Nkwain Joseph reminded the nurses that the aim of the association is to contribute to the improvement of the health of citizens. He thanked the CBC Health Services for the laudable initiative because without belonging to an association, ideally, you are not expected to practice. To him, it is a wise decision to launch the association within the CBC Health Services and it was his prayer that the association will grow from strength to strength while pledging their support as the umbrella association is ready to progressively guide and advise. It was the president’s hope that they will function according to the rules and regulations as they all aim to foster good practice and to have good practice, you must carry out continuous professional development via in-service training, workshops, and conferences to increase the knowledge of the personnel.
The nurses were encouraged by the presence of Dr Njini Rose, Senior Nurse and Lecturer at the University of Bamenda who used the words of different presidents to describe nurses as very significant people. She encouraged the nurses to invest in nursing and protect themselves given that nursing which was one of the most underestimated professions has become one of the most celebrated.
Mrs. Chimi Emerencia is the Supervisor for nursing services at the Nkwen Baptist Hospital, the main organizer of the event. She used the opportunity to appreciate all those who supported the Nurses, especially the Exco of Nkwen Baptist Hospital who did their best to see that the day was a success. The launching she said was indeed a dream come true since it was conceived some years back and the idea came up again in 2020 when the WHO made 2020 the year of Nurses and Midwives with the outbreak of the Corona Virus. This made the world see the importance of nursing and so they thought it astute for the CBC Nurses to come up as one and speak one language in order to groom the younger nurses and to have a strong resilient health workforce so as to strengthen the health system of the country and the world at large.
At the start of the event, the Chaplain of the CHC Health Services Central Administration Rev. Fongoh Godwin drawing inspiration from 1 Kings chapter 19 called on the Nurses to provide care for themselves as they seek care for others so as to overcome burnout for burnouts negatively affects the nurses and the patients might end up being the victims. He prescribed rest and refreshments as keys to avoiding burnout. The nurses went back to their various stations satisfied after a great celebration and launch of their association. They graced the occasion with a documentary presentation on how the nurses’ day came about and also via sensational singing capturing the theme and their core values.
Remember that:
“It is a curse to be a Medical Doctor without a Nurse”
“A hospital without a Nurse is like a building without a Foundation”.
“Save one life and you are a hero, save 100 lives and you are a Nurse”
“Nursing is caring but it takes more than a caring person to be a nurse”
“Caring for one is love but caring for everyone is nursing”