Governor Chukwuma Soludo has inaugurated the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Secretariat for the Anambra State chapter in Awka. The event, held at the newly established Nurses Secretariat, drew a diverse audience, including nurses, midwives, student nurses, medical experts, traditional rulers, and labor leaders.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, Governor Soludo praised the significant contributions of nurses to healthcare delivery in the state. He commended the chairman of the association, Comrade Edith Onwuka, and her team for their efforts in realizing this initiative.
Governor Soludo highlighted his administration’s commitment to supporting nurses, noting the recent employment of over 500 nurses, with 300 assigned to primary healthcare centers across the state to enhance grassroots healthcare services.
In her welcome address, Comrade Onwuka expressed gratitude to Governor Soludo for his exceptional performance in office. She explained that the association is both a professional organization and trade union, dedicated to unionizing and enforcing strict professionalism among all registered nurses practicing in various sectors.
Comrade Onwuka revealed that the secretariat was built through prudent management of union dues deducted from members’ salaries, demonstrating diligence and transparency in the project’s execution. She also outlined several challenges facing their members, including the stagnation of single-qualified nurses and midwives, non-implementation of a national harmonized scheme of service, and non-implementation of a 25% increase in CONHESS by the National Income, Salary, and Wages Commission.
National President of NANNM, Comrade Michael Nnachi, lauded the new secretariat as a milestone in the association’s history and commended Comrade Onwuka and her team for their excellent work.
Dr. Emmanuel Umenweke, representing the Anambra State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), praised the secretariat as a remarkable edifice and acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the state’s nurses. He affirmed the NMA’s commitment to partnering with nurses for efficient medical service delivery.
The event was attended by notable figures, including Comrade Chikwelu Adigwe, President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Anambra State; Obi Gibson Nwosu, traditional ruler of Awka, represented by traditional prime minister Engineer Benjamin Okoye; and former Anambra Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Nkechi Obiekezie, representing former Governor Willie Obiano.
The ceremony culminated in the presentation of awards to deserving individuals, including Governor Soludo, and featured cultural dance performances.
