“Nursing and Midwifery is not a business; It’s a call..” – Chimi Emerencia
Nurses and midwives of Nkwen Baptist Health Centre have recommitted themselves to be symbols of hope to patients. The commitment was stated on June 18, 2020,a day set aside by the facility to mark the International Day of Nurses and Midwives.
Mrs. Chimi Emmerencia, Supervisor of Nursing Services (SNS) in an elaborate charge, urged nurses and midwives to use every workday as an opportunity to demonstrate love and care for every one of their patients. “Be available every minute you can. Being around with your tenderness, patience and touch greatly reassures the patient. Your minute by minute presence or contact with patients, your care and concern make you nurses the veritable Florence Nightingale of yesterday, today and tomorrow,” admonished Mrs. Chimi, who herself is a nurse par excellence.
She further encouraged her peers to be of good cheer and be permanently on their feet in the face of the coronavirus, the killer-pandemic of the time. “You are at the center of every solution to a wide range of health challenges staring the world to its face today,” added Mrs. Chimi.
The International Day of Nurses and Midwives at Nkwen Baptist Health Centre served as a golden opportunity for young nurses, making their debut into the nursing field, to take the Nightingale pledge. One of the clauses they recited aloud, in a chorus tune was, “I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug.”
Expounding on the nurses’ pledge, Mrs. Nana Philippa, Nurse-In-charge of Burkitt’s lymphoma, said nurses must pay particular attention to confidentiality as regards patients’ health information; they should commit to constant learning and ready to question any procedure, drug administration or treatment protocols when in doubt if they want to serve faithfully.
The International Day of Nurses and Midwives was instituted by the International Council of Nurses way back in 1974. The day is also in observance of the 120th anniversary of the International Council of Nurses and the 200th birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.
Addressing the cream of nurses, the Director of Health Services (DHS), Prof. Tih Pius Muffih called on them to use their day to reflect on the pledge and call to duty they took upon leaving the nursing school. “Nurses [you] are very important, they [you] are front liners. When one comes to the hospital the first person they want to meet and see is you. You are the pillars of our health system. Through your hands, one comes to the world and in your hands, they depart. You are heroes indeed,” said Prof Tih.
The DHS used the opportunity to call on nurses of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services in general to be cautious of infectious diseases and take precautions; especially using protective gear constantly. “Do not be careless with your lives. If you are not there our services will suffer. Therefore, amongst yourselves prevent, amongst your patients prevent, and in the general public prevent. Let prevention be your watchword,” cautioned the public health expert.
On his part, Personal Manager of CBC Health Services, Mr. Ndosak George entreated the nurses to continue to brighten the corners where they are with exemplary health care. “The world is looking for nurses now more than ever. In the face of COVID-19 where everyone is vulnerable, the world is looking up to the nurse as a source of hope and health, so be that nurse! Be committed to your task, fight COVID-19 and make the distinction so the world will know that the CBC Health Services’ nurse even in crisis is different,” he said.
The Nurses and Midwives’ day at Nkwen Baptist Health Centre was an event of its kind. The nursing force clad in their white gowns and scrubs, through sketches and academic papers, reflected and renewed their faith in best Nursing and Midwifery practices.