The Kwara State Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Alhaji Aminu Shehu, has called on the state government to improve members' welfare packages.

Aminu made the appeal on Saturday in Ilorin on the sidelines of a forum addressing the shortage of medical practitioners in the state.

He also urged the state government to employ more health workers that would measure up with the increasing number of patients in the public health facilities.

According to him, there are only 700 nurses in the state and for them to be sufficient and efficient in discharging their work, the government must employ 3,000 more and also ensure a better welfare package.

“Last year, we mounted pressure on the state government to increase our salary and the governor increased between 60 per cent to 70 per cent, but didn't meet our expectations because we demanded 100 per cent.

“The governor employed more nurses last year, but as he employed, they spent some time and left the service for a better offer.

“We now conclude that the solution to the problem is increment of salary from 70 per cent to 100 per cent, improved welfare package and payment of hazard allowance.

“We have written to the governor who asked us to bring the number of nurses in the state and number required to be employed,” he said.

Aminu decried the situation whereby one nurse attended to about 30 patients when it should be one nurse to four patients, saying the development was worrisome.

He further demanded the presence of security operatives at various hospitals in order to check the excesses of some patients and their relatives who sometimes become violent and unruly whenever they lose their loved ones.

The labour leader however appreciated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for trying to address the plight of health workers in the state.

Aminu called on residents to reelect AbdulRazaq to enable him consolidate on the gains achieved so far and for the people to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

NAN