Borno Rep Sponsors Bills On Nursing, Health Technology Colleges

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Askira-Uba/Hawul federal constituency in Borno State, Dr Midala Usman Balami, has sponsored two bills at the National Assembly.

The bills which have passed the first reading on the floor of the National Assembly are for the establishment of Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Hawul and Federal College of Science and Health Technology, Askira-Uba.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Maiduguri, Balami, who is the only federal lawmaker elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he believes that the bills would immensely impact his constituents and its neighbouring states of Adamawa, Gombe and Yobe.

The lawmaker said, “These bills will bridge the skilled manpower deficit gap in the health sector and as well ease access to Nursing and Health-related studies, thereby creating a thriving environment for research, learning and development in the health sector.

“Apart from ease of access to healthcare, it will also decongest the nearly-saturated existing health institutions of Borno State and the North-east sub-region. That is why I strongly believe that there is no better time than now to make a case for the establishment of these institutions, especially looking at the peculiarity of our health indices such as the high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rate which is the highest in this country.

“It is worthy of note that bill sponsorship is an essential aspect of the lawmaking process and a core function of a good legislator.

“I am therefore excited as we work collectively to ensure Nigerians, particularly those at the grassroots have dividends of democracy,” Balami stated.