By Onyekachi Eze
Good news for prospective nursing and midwifery students in Imo State and beyond as more chances of getting admission to pursue their dream Profession have been created.
Following the resolution that arose from a motion on matter of importance raised by the Honourable Member representing Orlu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikenna Ihezuo, Colleges of Nursing Sciences across the State can now admit more.
Ihezuo, at a plenary session of the House yesterday prayed that the Merit College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery Orlu be included into the schedule of the Imo State Faith Based and Private Schools of Nursing and Midwifery/Colleges of Nursing Sciences (Establishment) Law No. 17 of 2019.
It reads, “Whereas it is the requirement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria that the establishment of any School of Nursing and Midwifery/College of Nursing Sciences shall pass through the House of Assembly of the State where it is to be domiciled;
“Aware that there is already in existence in the State, a law for Faith Based and Private Nursing Institutions titled Imo State Faith Based and Private Schools of Nursing and Midwifery/Colleges of Nursing Sciences (Establishment) Law No.17 of 2019;
“Noting that section 3, sub section (3) of the said Law provides that “other Faith-based and Private Schools of Nursing/Colleges of Nursing Sciences to be included in the schedule to this Law shall be approved by a resolution of the House;
“Noting that the College of Nursing mentioned in the caption has complied with the provisions of this Law as it relates to the establishment of Nursing Schools and Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo State”.
Ihezuo submitted that from an inspection tour, Merit College of Nursing Sciences has the wherewithal to provide quality nurses, especially as the demand for nurses is on the increase.
He continued that the number of intake in the already existing Colleges of Nursing is not enough to address the shortage of nurses needed, hence the necessity to include Merit College of Nursing Orlu into the Schedule of others State Colleges of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery.
“I am glad the motion is approved by the House which will go further to carter for the need of the populated Imolites”.
The Orlu Parliamentarian ceased the opportunity to assert that already, the school is operating but only needed the Legislative/State backing.
“This is like giving the School a full State licence to operate. Most of the nurses trained in most of these nursing schools provides more efficient services.
“Merit Nursing school has sophisticated equipments like the MRI, which most of these big hospitals do not have”, says Ihezuo.
Furthermore, the Legal practitioner lauded the Njaba founder, a American trained Medical Doctor for the initiative and for equipping the place with state-of-the-art facilities.
In his contribution, Hon Chigozie Nwaneri, Member representing Oru East State Constituency and Chief Whip of the House testified that matters concerning health cannot be overemphasized.
Nwaneri opined, “We don’t produce enough nurses to fill in most gaps needed. So approving of this will be an added advantage to the State and to prospective intakes. The founder of the School wants to give back to the State and to Humanity”.
Other contributors to the motion all applauded the motion for its timely presentation and the importance it portends.
The House however adopted the resolution of the motion to enable the inclusion of the Nursing school into State Faith Based and Private Schools of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery.
