Gov. El-Rufai lied, oxygen was not removed from our baby: Parents, NANNM

Parents of a child on an oxygen mask have denied the claim by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s government, which alleged some nurses at Barau Dikko Hospital disconnected a child’s oxygen supply to join the labour protest and strike.

One of the parents told NTA that the baby was hale and hearty.

The father said, “Even then, the oxygen was not in her mouth because they said she was stable at that moment. We were the ones that emphasised that we have to carry our baby to another hospital.’’

Nigeria Labour Congress commenced a five-day warning strike in Kaduna over the mass sacking of workers by the state government.

The action paralyzed both public and private activities in the state. Although the strike was suspended on Wednesday night with the intervention of the federal government for reconcialition with the two parties.

However, El-Rufai’s government on Tuesday said it had forwarded names of three nurses involved in the purported oxygen mask removal to the Ministry of Justice.

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Recalls that Kaduna State Government had in a statement signed by Muyiwa Adekeye, S. A. Media and Publicity to Governor el-RUFAI, said, ‘Reports from Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital disclosed that some identified nurses disconnected the oxygen supply of a two-day-old baby in an incubator on Monday, 17th May 2021. The names of the three nurses from the Special Baby Care Unit (SBCU) who were involved in this despicable act have been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice to initiate prosecution for attempted murder or murder in the event we lose the baby.’

The governor on Tuesday declared the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress Ayuba Wabba and other leaders wanted for alleged economic sabotage.

Mr El-Rufai also ordered the Ministry of Health to compile names of nurses below grade level 14 participating in the ongoing strike for dismissal.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Kaduna State Council has described the accusation by the Kaduna State Government that its members (nurses) removed oxygen from a two-day old baby as unfounded and misleading to the public.

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A statement signed by Chairman NANNM Kaduna State Chapter, Comrade Nurse Ishaku Yakubu, Wednesday, said, ‘An investigations carried out by the union have revealed how the nurse on duty helped to plead with the generator plant technician to allow the light in the hospital as a patient was on oxygen and to allow for the transfer of the same patient in the morning as the strike was to start midnight of 15th May 2021. Contrary to the allegations and false statements the nurse went extra miles to ensure the safety of the child and other patients, as it is known of nurses.

The investigations carried out by the association also revealed that the baby is alive and doing well in one of the private facilities in Kaduna town.

Read Also:NLC Vs KDSG: El- Rufai gives condition to attend FG negotiation meeting

FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF NANNM KADUNA STATE COUNCIL ON ALLEGED DISCHARGE OF PATIENTS AND REMOVAL OF OXYGEN ON A 2 DAY OLD BABY

In respect to the recent happenings in the state and the threats from the Government, the Association wishes to issue the following statements with particular reference to the accusation of our members of discharging patients from the hospital and removing oxygen from a two-day-old baby:

That the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) is an affiliate of NLC, and as such the Kaduna State Council is actively participating in the ongoing strike action as directed by her national body.

That NO member of NANNM in Kaduna state has ever either in the past or present discharged any patient during any union action and even in the present allegation of discharge of patients in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), the nurses did not discharge any patient. The patients left on their own considering the fact that services were withdrawn.

Read Also:NLC-KDSG : FG invites both parties to reconciliation meeting

That the accusation of our members removing oxygen from a Two-day old baby is unfounded and misleading to the public. The investigations carried out by the union have revealed how the nurse on duty helped to plead with the generator plant technician to allow the light in the hospital as a patient was on oxygen and to allow for the transfer of the same patient in the morning as the strike was to start midnight of 15th May 2021. Contrary to the allegations and false statements the nurse went the extra miles to ensure the safety of the child and other patients, as it is known of nurses.

The investigations carried out by the association also revealed that the baby is alive and doing well in one of the private facilities in Kaduna town. Videos of the interview with the mother of the baby and of the private hospital is available and will be made available to the media. The union shall take decisive action against the perpetrators of these malicious and incisive allegations.

The association wish to tell Nigerians that the image of the nurse has been battered and these allegations are aimed at further discrediting and tarnishing the image and reputation of the nurses and the nursing profession, this is rather unfortunate and we wish to call on everyone to disregard this malicious and unfounded allegation.

That the mass sack of nurses in Kaduna state from level 14 below is aimed at dividing the nurses and playing the “divide and rule” game. All nurses are part of this action as well as other health professionals, why single out nurses if not an attempt to divide the unity we share. More so, this is to strike fear among nurses to have them resume work knowing fully well that we constitute the majority of the workforce in the health sector. This attempt will fail as we are together and not moved by these threats. As far as NANNM is concerned, no nurse has been sacked in Kaduna state as the rules of disengagement has not been followed which is part of the reasons for this industrial action.

We call on the Kaduna state government to conserve the energy they are using now to fight nurses and use the same to secure the release of two of our nurses are in the hands of kidnappers for the past 30 days. They were taken at their duty post as government workers and the kidnappers are making huge demand as ransom.

The association want to assure the citizens of the state that we are committed to the provision of health care services to the public and to ensure they get the best but when the workforce is unfairly treated then the best cannot be achieved. We solicit for their prayers and understanding during this period, the almighty will help us all.

Com. Nurse Ishaku YakubuChairman, NANNM, Kaduna state council.