The Kwara State chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has issued a stern warning to health institutions across the state against deploying student nurses or intern nurses as substitutes during the ongoing nationwide seven-day warning strike.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Ilorin, the state secretary of NANNM, Marcus Lucas, raised concerns over reports that some hospitals were allegedly attempting to assign clinical duties meant for registered nurses to students and interns during the industrial action.
The association firmly rejected such measures, stressing that the practice poses a major threat to patient safety and undermines the purpose of the strike.
“Under no circumstances should any student nurse or intern be allowed to take over the responsibilities of registered nurses during this period,” the statement read.
“This poses a serious risk to patients’ safety and constitutes a direct sabotage of our collective industrial action.”
NANNM further warned that any Head of Department (HOD) found supporting or facilitating such actions would be held accountable and face appropriate disciplinary measures.
The association urged all members across the state to remain united and committed to the objectives of the strike, which is part of a broader push by the national body to address longstanding grievances affecting nurses and midwives in Nigeria.
