A new Bill that seeks to establish the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Akwa Ibom State successfully passed through second reading at the floor of the State House of Assembly during Thursday plenary.
The Bill, “THE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY (ESTABLISHMENT) BILL 2020,” is sponsored by Hon Udeme Otong (Abak).
Giving an insight into the Bill, Hon Otong enumerated the 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.
Supporting the Bill, Dr Usoro Akpanusoh (Esit Eket/Ibeno), who described the Bill as apt, said it should be given accelerated hearing.
He particularly made reference to the Psychiatric Hospital in Eket, due to lack of enabling infrastructure.
Dr Akpanusoh further said the Bill, when passed into law, will address the deficiencies in the health sector with particular reference to the provision for qualified nurses.
Also supporting the Bill, Barrister Aniefiok Dennis (Etinan) said 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 from 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.”
Rt. Hon. David Lawrence (Eket) and others also toe the same path to support the Bill.
The Bill was referred to the House Committee on Health by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Aniekan Bassey.
The House has adjourned plenary to reconvene on Thursday, June 25, 2020.
