Yaba Psychiatric Hospital nurses demand better pay, welfare - Punch Newspapers

Nurses at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, have urged the Federal Government to prioritise their welfare, improve working conditions and provide adequate resources to enable them to deliver quality healthcare services to patients.  The Dean, Faculty of Nursing, University of Lagos, Prof. Adeshina Badru, made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Nurses’ Week celebration organised by the hospital’s Department of Nursing and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, FPH Yaba, to mark the week. Speaking on this year’s theme, “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives”, Badru described nurses as the “heartbeat of the healthcare system,” noting that they were often the first healthcare professionals to attend to patients and the last to leave. He maintained that their competence and preparedness were crucial to patient outcomes, particularly as the responsibilities of nurses continued to expand with developments in healthcare delivery. Speaking specifically on mental healthcare, the professor noted that psychiatric nurses had demanding responsibilities, including identifying early signs of relapse, de-escalating patients experiencing acute psychosis, educating families and supporting people living with serious mental health conditions. He added that psychiatric nurses played a critical role in suicide prevention by staying with vulnerable patients and recognising warning signs that might otherwise go unnoticed. “We sit with suicidal patients at 3 am, 4 am, 5 am and make the difference between a night of safety and a tragedy,” Badru stated. The don stressed that effective psychiatric nursing required clinical competence, therapeutic communication, knowledge of prescribed interventions and the ability to recognise and manage medication side effects. He further emphasised the need for nurses to continually sharpen their basic and advanced therapeutic skills, noting that professional training and competence could directly influence patient outcomes. Badru cautioned that nurses could not provide effective therapeutic care in overcrowded and unsafe environments, stressing that adequate staffing, resources and staff motivation were essential to quality healthcare delivery. “We cannot do therapeutic work in overcrowded, unsafe work environment,” he stressed. He called on the government and hospital management to ensure adequate funding for hospitals, employ more psychiatric nurses and provide appropriate equipment and technology, including telehealth platforms. Badru also urged nursing associations to strengthen advocacy against stigma, develop specialty certification programmes, publish research on nurse-led interventions and establish mentorship programmes for psychiatric nurses. He advised psychiatric nurses to protect their professional identity, advocate for patients who could not speak for themselves and practise self-care, noting that nurses’ wellbeing was important because of their central role in healthcare delivery. “When you empower a psychiatry nurse with knowledge, with truth, with respect, and with the words, you do not just treat an illness, you restore dignity, you prevent suicide, you save lives,” he declared. Tenant, lawyer bicker over alleged failed legal service delivery Twin fires destroy Lagos multi-million-naira goods CNG cuts tricycle fuel costs by over 70% — NURTW chieftain In her welcome address, the Head of Nursing Services at the hospital, Mrs Alonge Kehinde, described nurses as essential drivers of quality, safety, compassion and continuity of care. She explained that the hospital’s nurses had a particularly demanding role because they cared for people experiencing mental, neurological and behavioural health challenges, some of whom faced fear, discrimination and misunderstanding. Kehinde noted that psychiatric nurses served not only as caregivers but also as listeners, therapeutic presences, advocates, protectors of dignity and sources of hope for patients. She stressed that empowerment should extend beyond professional training to include continuous professional development, leadership opportunities, supportive working environments, adequate resources, modern equipment and opportunities for nurses to participate meaningfully in decision-making. “When nurses are empowered, patients are safer. Healthcare is stronger. Communities are healthier. Ultimately, lives are saved,” she noted. The Head of Nursing Services acknowledged the demanding nature of nursing, including long hours, night duties, emergency calls, emotional pressures, and challenging clinical situations. “Nurses, you are noticed. Even though your contributions sometimes may be felt as unnoticed, you are doing a great job,” Kehinde affirmed. She encouraged young nurses to continue learning, develop their skills, uphold professional ethics and embrace leadership, while urging senior nurses and leaders to mentor and create opportunities for the next generation. Also speaking, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2026 Nurses’ Week, Nurse Olawale Adegoke Taiwo, called for broader support for nurses from the Federal Government, non-governmental organisations, individuals and members of the public. Adegoke, a mental health nurse, explained that the specialist nature of the hospital required nurses to be adequately prepared to manage patients with mental health conditions, substance use problems and other specialised needs. He stressed that technology should form part of nurses’ professional development, particularly with the growing use of information and communication technology, artificial intelligence and telemedicine in healthcare. “When you empower the core of the hospital, it transcends to all other parts of the medical team. We need that empowerment,” he maintained. Adegoke also expressed concern over the migration of Nigerian nurses, urging stakeholders to create better working conditions that would encourage professionals to remain in the country. “We want our nurses here to be well-defined, to be able to work and have that dignity of labour,” he added. The celebration featured lectures, drama presentations, community outreach, awards and other activities aimed at promoting professional development. Kindly share this story:

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.