If the existing talent is appropriately utilized and arranged, Nigeria has the capacity to send medical personnel to needy countries, according to Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Okowa made the remarks while inaugurating the Collegiate System in the State’s Schools of Nursing at the College of Nursing, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
He stated that rather than considering banning medical practitioners from leaving the country, more of them could be taught, and from that pool, enough could remain in the country while others could be sold to needy countries.
“By negotiating bilateral partnerships with foreign nations to train and export more medical experts to those countries, Nigeria can harness the tremendous demand for medical professionals trained in the country,” he added.
Okowa expressed concern about the current trend in which medical personnel no longer empathize with humans, calling it “commonplace and immoral.”
He asked all medical personnel to uphold their profession’s principles by always doing their utmost to help patients and show them affection.
The Governor stated that Nigeria was facing a dilemma with nurses, midwives, and physicians leaving the nation, and that the situation had begun to strain the country’s healthcare system.
“I believe that if we as a country recognize where our strengths are, we can do things to strengthen where our strengths are.”
“There is nothing wrong with Nigeria planning to train many more nurses than we need, and we get into bilateral relationships with other nations to export some of our nurses, midwives, and physicians.”
“I am not one of those who will come out and say that we are seeking to pass legislation to halt or restrict the movement of medical people out of the nation.”
“What we need to do is guarantee that Nigeria has a planned program to actually train more than our daily and yearly needs, and that we are able to engage into strategic collaborations with other nations,” he added.
Governor Okowa praised the Ministry of Health and the management of the state’s Schools of Nursing for their efforts to transition the institutions to the collegiate system.
According to him, such a method might improve the training of more nurses and other medical staff.
“I believe that the Delta college system will foster this, and I hope that we will have individuals who can encourage and assist you in doing so.”
“I believe we have the potential to train a lot more nurses than we need right now; it just takes a bit more funding and commitment,” he added.
Okowa also thanked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for assisting the State Government in upgrading various facilities at Agbor College.
“I’d also want to thank the Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council for committing to look into how they might increase the number of students at the institution.”
“I can see that the students are quite thrilled because, in addition to becoming nurses and midwives, they now have the option of obtaining a Higher National Diploma (HND) in nursing services,” he stated.
Farouk Umar Abubakar, Secretary-General and Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, commended Okowa for his great commitment to the development of the state, including health and other sectors, adding that the Governor had written his name in gold for his positive contributions to nursing and other health professions in the country.
According to Abubakar, Nigerian nurses and midwives are performing well worldwide, and the country has produced no less than 21,000 nurses in the last six years.
He stated that the domestication of the community-nursing program in most areas of the nation has greatly helped to the production of appropriate nursing and midwifery grassroots workforce for primary healthcare services.
Previously, Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, stated that the transfer from the School to College System was made possible by Okowa’s support for the Ministry.
He stated that the nursing colleges in Agbor were indexed from 30 to 100 students; 50 to 75 for Warri and 50 to 70 for Eku, while the two schools of midwifery in Asaba and Sapele were indexed at 50.
