Be kind, health workers urged

Oct 22, 2009

HEALTH workers have been urged to be kind to patients despite the difficulties involved. The registrar of the Allied Health Professionals Council, Benjamin Odongo, said being a health practitioner is a calling just like priesthood, where service to the pe

By Frank Mugabi

HEALTH workers have been urged to be kind to patients despite the difficulties involved. The registrar of the Allied Health Professionals Council, Benjamin Odongo, said being a health practitioner is a calling just like priesthood, where service to the people is a priority.

“As health professionals, we handle life. Always smile although things are difficult. Very many are called but very few are chosen. You are lucky to be among the chosen few,” Odongo said.

He was addressing the first graduands of Arua School of comprehensive nursing in Arua town last week. Odongo described nursing as a “noble” profession and urged the graduates to register with the professional council to help weed out quacks.

He also urged them to adhere to the ethical code of conduct that was jointly developed by the health ministry and the professional council. The Bishop of Madi and West Nile diocese, Joel Obetia, advised the graduates to grow in their spiritual lives if they are to be compassionate.

“It is surprising to see some nurses looking after vulnerable patients with a face of thunder. This shouldn’t be part of you,” Obetia advised. A total of 444 students, 246 of them females, got diplomas and certificates in enrolled nursing, midwifery and comprehensive nursing. The principal, Margaret Nyakuni, said the school which was built for 120 students, currently accommodates 533 students following the introduction of new programmes.

The chairman of the governing council, Christopher Yiiki, applauded the education ministry for providing a bus to the school. Yiiki said a new resource centre and classrooms had been constructed with support from the European Union. He added that the old buildings had also been rehabilitated.

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