Kebbi’s exemplary nurses

Hadiza Usman is one of the many mothers whose deteriorating living condition and poverty level has forced her  to depend on  nurses in Kebbi State, who levy themselves to settle hospital bills of critical cases brought to hospitals.  Many less privileged patients, children and pregnant women throng  the Federal Medical Center (FMC) and Sir Yahaya […]

Hadiza Usman is one of the many mothers whose deteriorating living condition and poverty level has forced her  to depend on  nurses in Kebbi State, who levy themselves to settle hospital bills of critical cases brought to hospitals.  
Many less privileged patients, children and pregnant women throng  the Federal Medical Center (FMC) and Sir Yahaya Memorial hospital, two government hospitals in Birnin Kebbi, to take advantage of the free medical largess.
Daily Trust gathered that three out of five critical cases, especially in the  Caesarian Section (CS) operation for women and accident cases, as well as treatment and operation of children, are funded from the self-imposed levy by the nurses.
The hospital has become a topic  of discussion among families in the State ,who throng  the facility to enjoy the financial assistance offered by the nurses, especially to life threatening cases of poor patients.
Hadiza, 31, a mother of seven, told our reporter that the bills for the two CS operations she underwent in the hospital, was settled by the nurses.
“In fact, even the babies dress and the prescribed drugs were provided by the nurses,” she said.    
Daily Trust reporter also accidentally ran into a nurse who was surrounded by some group of family members thanking and praying for God’s  blessing to all the nurses, doctors and staff of the hospital.
A nurse at the FMC who rushed out of the theatre to announce to the husband of the woman who just underwent a successful operation as a result of complication, to her amazement was invaded with praises and prayers by family members, who immediately formed a circle around her.
“My wife was brought in from our village in Ambursa with   severe labour since yesterday. I left her to go and source for money ,when I was told that she may need to be operated upon.
“I was so worried that I could not get anybody to loan me the money, and even buy my farm produce to raise the fund.
“To my surprise, my in-laws whom I left in the hospital with my wife, told me that the nurses, sensing the  urgent  nature of her case and my poor condition, paid for the operation and the materials and the baby’s dress,” Sani Shantali, husband of the patient told our reporter.
“Allah will bless this hospital and the management for being very generous and kind hearted to poor people like us. God will continue to bless them and their family,” he repeated in tears.
Aisha Faruku from Birnin Kebbi town, who was about to be discharged from the hospital, said her medication and other hospital charges, are being paid for by the nurses.
“Even those who are off-duty used to come to visit me with gifts and fruits and show their concern on my recovery process. They really make me feel at home and I am really going to miss them,” she said.

Investigations revealed that the assistance were coming through the State chapters of Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) and Female Muslim Nurses and Midwives Association of Nigeria (FEMNAMAN).
The General Secretary of the FEMNAMAN , Matron Maryam Mustapha and the Vice Chairperson of IMAN, Hajia Amina Abdullahi Gele, had confirmed in a separate chat with Daily Trust in their association’s office  recently  in Birnin Kebbi.
The Secretary of FEMNAMAN disclosed that the association in 2012 alone, settled the medical bills of well over 300 handicapped patients, mostly children,  and women with delivery complications.
“The association was formed in  1996 with 45 financial members, to help the most vulnerable patients who cannot fund their medical bills.
“Our sources of funding are from monthly taxes, voluntary levy from members, and 30 per cent proceeds from projects initiated by the association.
“Over time, we  have utilized these funds to save the lives of many financially handicapped patients, irrespective of their ethnic or religious background.
“We do assist men, and  even women with VVF cases, who need to undergo surgery,” she said.
The Vice Chairman of IMAN, Hajiya Gele said the recent beneficiaries were from the metropolis and villages around Birnin Kebbi.
“Some of these patients came from nearby villages such as Kardi,  Wuromali, Gulma, Dalijan, Ambursa, Randali, Tunga  and Birnin Kebbi town.      
“These patients sometimes come with emergency life threatening ailments, and they do not have money. So, we agreed among ourselves to meet and help them, in order to complement our primary responsibility of saving lives,” she said.

Some of the nurses interviewed said doctors, other medical personnel and the management of the hospital, have been giving their association all the necessary cooperation in their activities.
“We are calling on individuals and corporate organization to also come forward and contribute to assist the poor who die of curative ailments, because of inability to pay hospital bills, or buy prescribed drugs,” the nurses appealed.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of FMC, Kebbi, Abdulmumin Bawa Yauri when contacted said the indigent patients are also assisted through the Medical Social Services Department (MSSD) by management, and a dedicated account is created for donation from members of the public willing to assist such patients.
“IMAN is an organization having a chapter in FMC Kebbi with a view to assisting any patient that requires help from funds contributed by staff of the center.
“The present leadership of IMAN has also made these funds available to many  patients, irrespective of religion, creed or tribal affiliation,” he stressed.