Faculty celebrates World Health Day, as NMCN helmsman commends management

The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Mr. Faruk U. Abubakar, has called on the management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to allow affiliation with College of Nursing Sciences for both BNSC and PG programmes.

Abubakar said this while delivering a paper titled: “Health for All-the Role of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Towards Attainment of Health for All in Nigeria,”during an event organised by the Faculty of Health Sciences of the university to mark the 2023 World Health Day held on April 12, 2023 at the NOUN headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.

This, he said, was part of the council’s vision for more graduate nurses trained to practice not only in Nigeria but globally.

“NMCN appreciates and commends the management of NOUN being the highest single university in Nigeria that produces the largest number of graduate nurses in Nigeria.

“NMCN solicits for more good working relation with NOUN for implementation of affiliation with colleges of nursing for both BNSC and post graduate certificates in our various specialty areas for better and quality health care deliveries in achieving health for all to Nigerians,” the NMCN boss said.

He further appealed to the management to sustain the tempo and ensure that only Registered Nurses (RN) are allowed to enrol in to the BNSc programme.

Speaking on the 2023 theme: “Health for All,” the registrar said the theme focuses on equal access to qualitative healthcare by all citizens of the world with limited or no financial risk.

On key issues of emphasis in 2023 World Health Day, the CEO stated that health for all envisions a society in which all people irrespective of race, language, religion, age, gender and social status have good health and enjoy happy lives in a peaceful, wealthy, sustainable and supportive environment.

“The right to health is a fundamental human right as everyone (babies, children, adolescents and youths, adults, older people) must have access to healthcare when and when they need it, without financial burden, while thirty percent (30%) of the world’s population lacks access to basic healthcare,”he said.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, expressed happiness as the university joined the rest of the world in observing the day even as he commended the dean of the faculty, Prof. Usman Adamu, for organising the event.

The VC, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Prof. Isaac Butswat, said the importance of the day could not be over emphasised especially as it creates awareness and reminds people of the unparalleled value of health.

“Celebrating World Health Day serves as a reminder to government organisations, and individuals around the world to prioritise and invest in health and wellness.

“This day is very important as it brings about raising awareness about global health issues and highlights the importance of health and well-being,” he added.

In his welcome address, the host and the dean of the faculty said they considered the threat posed by poor training, poor motivation and shortage of health professionals in Nigeria towards achieving health for all when choosing the theme.

The World Health Day happens every year and its goal is to teach about important health issues, new medicines and research, and to make sure that everyone can get medical help no matter where they live.

According to Adamu, “the World Health Day is celebrated on the founding of the World Health organisation since 1948, each of these celebrations focuses on special theme aimed at highlighting and proffering solutions to specific global health problems,” added.

It would be recalled that the annual event is being celebrated on April 7 globally.

This year’s event beamed its spotlight on nurses and midwives, the on-the-call, restless workforce that revolutionised the healthcare industry today.

There was a free medical check-up and agilities exercise at the NOUN headquarters.