AKHA Seeks To Establish College Of Nursing, Midwifery
A new bill that seeks to establish the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Akwa Ibom State is underway.
The bill has successfully passed through second reading at the floor of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly during plenary.
The bill entitled “The College of Nursing and Midwifery (Establishment) Bill, 2020’’, is sponsored by Hon. Udeme Ottong, member representing Abak State Constituency and 14 others.
Giving an insight into the bill, Hon Ottong enumerated the numerous advantages of having the college in the state to include assess to grants and funds from donors as well as providing qualified medical personnel, especially nurses and midwives, who will work in the numerous hospitals in the state.
He lamented that the School of Midwifery and Psychiatric Hospital in the state have all lost accreditation, hence the urgent need to establish the proposed college.
Speaking in support of the bill, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh, member for Esit Eket /Ibeno State Constituency, described the bill as apt and called for accelerated hearing.
He particularly made reference to the psychiatric hospital in Eket which had lost accreditation coupled with the fact that the entire building and environment is now in a very sorry state.
Akpanusoh was also of the opinion that the bill, when pass in to law, will address the deficiencies in the nursing sector and in extension the health sector in Akwa Ibom State, including the provision for qualified nurses.
Also speaking in support of the bill, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Aniefiok Dennis who represents Etinan State Constituency, said that the bill is important considering the fact that the college when established with full accreditation, will have access to the various grants, donations and funds provided by donor agencies like TETFUND and others.
He also said that the college when established will prepare students for both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) for those who are interested in gaining admission into federal universities or seeking employment in federal teaching hospitals.
The member representing Eket State Constituency, Rt. Hon. David Lawrence, also rose in support of the bill among others.
In his ruling the speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, referred the bill to the House Committee on Health for in-depth study and to report back to the House within one month.
