By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk has maintained that nursing education remains critical to the development of a competent workforce for the health sector of Cross River State.
Addressing a meeting with the provosts and chairmen of governing councils of all four Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences in the State, recently, in his officer, the Commissioner revealed that in the next three years, the current nursing workforce will be depleted by over 70% except urgent steps are taken to address such manpower needs in a cost effective way.
“The colleges must realise that nursing education remains a critical pillar in the promotion of a healthy workforce for universal health coverage. The colleges need a dynamic structure that will engineer training and retention of nurses for the State,” Ayuk averred.
The Commissioner warned against unnecessary friction and rancour between the colleges, and urged them to rather develop strategies to help the state meet challenges besetting the institutions.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Nursing Services in the State, Mrs. Mary Ingio, assured the Commissioner of the willingness of the leadership of the colleges to work together for the interest of the State.
