Foundation holds international nursing conference

As part of its contribution towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of good health and wellbeing by 2030 alongside other Africa countries, Lead Nurse Africa International Foundation in collaboration with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) holds first International Nursing conference.

President, Lead Nurse Africa International, Collins Ogbolo, said the conference is aimed at modelling transformational leaders to change the narrative of nursing in Nigeria and Africa.

Ogbolo at a press briefing added that adaptations from the conference, which holds from April 25 to 28, will assist the nation bridge the huge gap in the health sector, especially for people in rural areas that have little or no access to quality health care.

Leveraging on the numerical value of nurses in health sector, he stressed that they have the potential to overcome the nation’s health challenges as nurses’ interaction plays a huge role in the success of patients’ recovery.

Charging the government and private firms to support nurses, he said it is practically impossible for Africa to have a sufficient healthcare without investing in nurse, because what was provided is not sufficient for the 21st century nurse to thrive.

“Because capacity building is very important for nurses to perform optimally, the conference is geared at raising transformational leaders to play leading role in line with the SDGs objectives.

“Nurses are large social and medical factor to influencing healthcare practise for the society. The conference will bring together nurses from hospitals, schools and administrative levels to ensure that right knowledge is impacted.”

This is just the beginning for us because there are plans to continue,” Ogbolo added. He said the right model for nursing practise and research must be established, while capacity for development and achieving the SDGs should be adopted.

In his words: “Nigeria must prioritise nurses’ care and capacity building. We need transformational nursing leaders in the sector. Bringing leaders from Africa and outside will allow us share experience and make informed decision on how to achieve the SDGs.

“Today, students finish nursing school early, hence, they retire early. Instead of just retiring, they can help areas that lack access to quality healthcare.”Meanwhile, Family Health Director of the Foundation, Julie Mogbo said the collaboration is seen as a means to an end and promised that follow up will be done to implement policis adopted at the conference.

“The health sector cannot function in isolation. Nurses will change the tide to influence others and change the narrative. We include practitioners from both private and public to reach the grassroots.

“Our monitoring and evaluation team are up to the task as we set standard for practise in the Africa context for change. We admit that it is a continuous process and we will not relent until we empower nurses to make impact, for the benefit of the public.