Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has urged the federal government to initiate a policy of supporting private institutions that train nurses in the country.
The former Anambra State governor gave the advice when he handed a cheque of N10 million over to the College of Nursing Sciences, Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha local government area of Anambra State to Bishop of the Catholic Dioceses of Awka, Most. Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, at the premises of the school.
Obi described the role of nurses as very critical in health delivery services stating that nurses are the closest medical personnel to any patient, as such the federal government should initiate a policy to support institutions involved in training nurses.
He commended the proprietor of the college, Bishop Ezeokafor, and the entire members of the management for their dedication in improving the infrastructure in the college, and, especially for the quality of training the nursing trainees are receiving in the college.
He said, “Institutions like this should get budgetary allocation (from state and federal governments) because of the great work you are doing, trying to train these nurses who are always there with the patients.
“We can’t talk about healthcare, which is very important to national development, without talking about healthcare workers. I have heard what the head of the nursing department in the school has said, I want to assure you that we will come back.
“Training these people is helping to protect our future. If we do not train them today, they will become a threat to us,” he said further.
Responding, Bishop Ezeokafor commended him for his efforts in contributing to building institutions for national growth and helping to nurture the young ones to be useful to the society.
He apologised to the former LP presidential candidate over what transpired during the 2023 presidential election and assured him that God who has the ultimate control of the affairs of man would always grant him his heart desires at the appropriate time.
