The move By Akwa Ibom Federal Lawmaker To Bring Federal School of Nursing And Midwifery To The State Receives A Boost
By Emmanuel Uffot
The Bill seeking for the establishment of a Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Eket, Akwa Ibom State has scaled through second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill, sponsored by the Member representing Eket/ONNA/Esit Eket/ Ibeno Federal Constituency, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh has passed through Second Reading, receiving massive endorsement by members of the lower legislative chambers last Tuesday.
Etteh in his presentation, stated, ”
Dear Colleagues, statistics shows that there are two Tertiary Health facilities in the State, 42 secondary health facilities and 460, primary health facilities that provide health care services to the over six (6) million residents in the State, consequently, establishing the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Eket will go a long way to improve the quality and number of nurses and midwives in all the health facilities in the State. It will also provide indigenous medical personnel to the nine (9) multinational oil companies operating in the Federal Constituency.
“Mr. Speaker and my Honorable Colleagues, an educational environment helps bridge the gap of diversity and it enhances unity, particularly in our multi-ethnic environment. The college shall support Individuals from diverse ethnic groups, providing professional growth and development for would-be nurses and midwives and ensure they stay up-to-date with the latest medical practices and technologies.
“Furthermore, there is a Brain drain also known as Jappa syndrome in the Nursing sector as it has been reported in Punch Newspaper of August 3, 2024, that a total of 3,173 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives were licensed to practice in the United Kingdom from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 whilst 13,656 nurses and midwives who were educated in Nigeria are practicing in the UK right now.”
Explaining the bill he said, “The bill which is divided into (8) eight parts and thirty-eight (38) sections, seeks to establish a College of world class standard with modern facilities and technically equipped personnel in the field of Nursing and Midwifery, which shall train adequate persons in the field of Nursing and Midwifery to aid in the provision of health care for the people of Eket/ONNA/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal constituency and all the neighboring areas. It seeks to equip, maintain and operate the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery which shall ensure that medical standards provided at all establishments under its control and the standard of treatment and
cure provided for patients at those establishments do not fall below those usually provided by similar establishments of international repute.”
The Federal School of Nursing and Midwifery bill for is just one of the many good things the Ibeno born House of Representative member is doing for his Federal Constituency.
It could be recalled that in the past three months, Honourable Etteh has been organising free medical outreach for people of his Federal Constituency being, Eket, Ibeno, On and Esit Eket.
In addition to the outreach, he has also organised ICT training for youths of the Federal Constituency as well as empowerment of women and youths among others.
