Health workers under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Ondo State chapter have expressed satisfaction with the State government’s decision to upgrade the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Akure to a degree awarding institution in line with global standard.
The State Executive Council led by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had this week after its meeting approved the absorption of the Nursing School by the University of Medical Science, Ondo (UNIMED) into a degree awarding institution.
Reacting during this year’s international Nurses’ week in Akure, the Ondo state Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Comrade Abel Opeyemi-Oloniyo said the decision of the government would boost the working capacity of nurses and midwives in the state.
Comrade Oloniyo explained that the Ondo state government would become first state in Nigeria to carry oiut upgrading of its School of Nursing, also describing as timely a proposed law aimed at upgrading the School of Health Technology in Akure to a College of Health Technology in line with global standard.
Oloniyo said, “the upgrading of our school of Nursing is a welcome development, we were carried along from day one that government plans to ensure higher status for the school. Schools of Nursing across Nigeria have been given few years, to upgrade their status, we are happy Ondo state is taking a lead in this area, we are going to be the first state in the country to do this”.
On the recent security breach by patients of the state Psychiatric Hospital, Akure, the NANNM Chairman restated his call on the state government to improve security of health workers and patients for adequate service delivery.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Nurses: a voice to lead health is a human right”, a don, Professor Adenike Olaogun described nurses and midwives as most critical personnel in the health care delivery hence the need to ensure their regular training.
Declaring open the Nurses’ week, the state Commissioner for health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro said the state government was working hard to improve welfare of nurses and other medical workers especially in the areas of capacity building and security at hospitals.
Adegbenro said “you will recall that the School of Nursing and Midwifery was absorbed by the University of Medical Science, Ondo (UNIMED) into a degree awarding institution. Also, with the new bill introduced today, when signed into law, the School of Health Technology in Akure will be upgraded into a College of Health Technology.
The Ondo state Head of Service, Mr Toyin Akinkuotu charged nurses to be more proactive in implementing various state government’s policies in the health sector particularly the introduction of free health care service for pregnant women and children below five year old.
Story by: Leke Adegbite
