The Lagos chapter of the National Association of Nigeria
Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has appealed to the state government to address the
issue of shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers.
Blessing Israel, chairman of the association, made the plea
on Thursday, while receiving relief packages donated by Unilever PLC.
NANNM appreciated Unilever PLC for donating 11,088 cartons
of baby powder, which would be distributed to all maternal/child care centres
and hospitals in Lagos state.
Speaking during the presentation, according to NAN, Israel
alleged that nurses and other health workers in state hospitals had resorted to
reusing PPE due to shortage.
“There are some PPE that should not be reused, but nurses
and other health workers are being asked to reuse them,” she said.
“It is not good enough, because it will continue to endanger
the lives of health workers and the patients that are not COVID-19 positive in
the hospitals.
“Our members have been reusing face masks, which are
supposed to be the cheapest of all the PPE. I think, at this period, face masks
should be manufactured in the state as well as the country, so as to check its
shortage.”
Israel added that nurses had contracted the virus, because
they were unnecessarily exposed.
“Many of our members are psychologically down at the moment;
we appreciate the state government for its efforts, but we want them to do more
for our people,” Israel added.
“We cannot fight the government, but be partners in
progress; so, we must reason together to ensure that we curtail and eradicate
COVID-19 in the state.”
Earlier on Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had
expressed concern over lack of PPE for health workers, which has contributed to
the spread of COVID-19 among medical personnel in Africa, with over 10,000
confirmed to have contracted the virus.
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