By CHARLES IWUOHA

Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), says that well-trained and well-motivated nurses and midwives remained key to successful Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC).

Ugwu made the call on Tuesday in Enugu while reacting to the theme of this year’s World Health Day, which is; “Support Nurses and Midwives”.

He noted that the theme was apt and in line with the giant strides of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi led-administration in Enugu State in revitalising many PHC centres to work for the teeming population of the people especially vast number in the rural communities.

According to him, the work of nurses and midwives is at the centre of every progressive and successfully run PHC system or scheme anywhere in the world.

He described nurses and midwives as game changers in the healthcare sector especially at the PHC centres, “where most of them perform exceptionally well”.

“They are the people who stay more with the sick and those in pregnancy labour at the PHC centres day and night and actually contribute more by putting in more sacrifice for the success of most PHC healthcare activities.

“They are the pillars that ensure the reduction of incidences of maternal and child disease burden at all PHC centres and by extension the rural communities anywhere.

“So, I think we need them the more and need to support them with adequate training and motivation to enable them to do more and bring out the very best in them,” Ugwu said.

The ENS-PHCDA boss, however, enjoined them to remain and focus in staying at the rural areas, where their services are mostly and highly needed going with the ethics of their professions.

He called on health authorities and all Nigerians to appreciate nurses and midwives in commensurate to their daily sacrifices to sustain the health sector in general.

The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on April 7; under the sponsorship of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as other related.