Kunle Adelabu
Chairman of the Lagos State Heath Service Commission, Dr Bayo Aderiye has commended retired nurses and health officers under the aegis of the Association of Direct Entry Five (D. E 5), Lagos State School of Midwifery 1983 Set for providing succor for the serving health workers in cushioning the effects of the COVID – 19 lockdown.
Dr Aderiye gave the commendation at the Ijede General Hosptal in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division of Lagos Southwest, Nigeria while on working visit with members of the commission to the hospital.
Members of the D. E. S was on tour to general hospitals in ljede, Ifako-Ijaiye and Epe as well as the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Ikorodu, Igbogbo, Ipakodo and Agege Primary Health Centres where they distributed food items to 325 junior Health workers who are in the frontline of providing care for the needy, while they also encouraged them and assured that they are not alone.
Presentations for the three PHCs in Ikorodu Division was held at the European Union Support Immunization Governance in Nigeria (EU – SIGN Project) Centre at the Maternity Centre in Ikorodu.
While speaking during the visit, Dr Aderiye said that:
“We commend you for your act of generosity despite the fact that you have left service.
“This is commendable because government cannot do it alone and intervention like this go a long way in bringing about needed succor.
“It is very thoughtful of you to remember those who are still in service and in frontline of health work in the state, especially during this challenging Coronavirus pandemic”, he stated while commending the retired health workers”.
Dr Balogun Oluwa, the Deputy Medical Director, Ijede General Hospital, who stood in for the Medical Director, speaking during the presentation of the relief materials, described the gesture as novel.
“On behalf of Ijede General Hospital, l thank the retired health workers for the gesture, especially for our workers at this period”, he stated.
“What you are doing is novel, especially coming from retirees that supposed to be enjoying their retirements but chose to identify with health workers that are giving their best at this critical period that we are facing health crisis.
“We also thank the group for considering ljede General Hospital for this gesture”.
A retired Director of Nursing at Local Government Service Commission and Vice President of the Association of Direct Entry Five (D. E 5), Lagos State School of Midwifery 1983 Set, Mrs Oluwatoyin Adetoun Odukoya, speaking during the presentations, said that the group was giving back to their profession and identifying with health workers that are on frontline of health pandemic that is ravaging the world.
She represented the President of the association, Mrs Funmilayo Tailor, who is based abroad.
“We are here on behalf of the Class of 1985 School of Midwifery to give back to the people within the hospital.
“We are also identifying with the health workers that are giving care to the sick, especially during this period of global COVID – 19 pandemic. We commend you for your untiring efforts and commitment towards caring for people irrespective of their backgrounds and health issues”.
She explained that other members of the group were also presenting food items in other parts of the state.
“While we are here today, our members are also presenting the little that we are giving out here in lfako- ljaiye, Agege while we are still going to visit Epe for the same purpose”.
She advised that health workers should take to the government’s directives on stipulated measures to contain the deadly virus and continually educate other people.
“It is important for us as Health workers to ensure that we adhere strictly to all the measures stipulated by the government. Hand washing is very important at this period, so also is social distancing, use of sanitizer and other necessary measures”.
Other members of the Class of 1983 School of Nursing delegation in Ikorodu are Mrs Animasjaun Sekinot, retired Apex Chief Matron and Secretary and Evangelist Oluyemisi Ilubanwo, a retired Chief Matron/Officer-n-Charge and Treasurer of the group.
