 |
| Photo of Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu and Dr. Esu Coco-Bassey, Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing |
The nursing sector in Cross River State has recorded unprecedented growth under the administration of Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, with over 15 major reforms and investments implemented since May 2023.
Dr. Esu Coco-Bassey, Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, who disclosed this in Calabar, described the achievements as “a deliberate repositioning of nursing education and service delivery in line with the Governor’s ‘People First’ agenda.”
According to Dr. Coco-Bassey, Cross River is now the first state in Nigeria to appoint both a Special Adviser on Nursing Education and Special Assistant on Nursing, giving the profession direct representation at the highest level of government.
The administration secured approvals from regulatory bodies for resource verification, full accreditation, and the establishment of Colleges of Nursing in Calabar, Itigidi, Obudu, and Ogoja to run the National Diploma/Higher National Diploma in Nursing programme. Functional Governing Boards have also been inaugurated for all Colleges of Nursing to strengthen accountability.
To meet accreditation requirements, government employed Science lecturers, Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurse Educators, and Clinical Nurses across the colleges and service areas. Capital funds have been released for projects, while the State-of-the-Art Entrepreneurial Development Centre at the College of Nursing, Calabar, has been constructed and commissioned.
Three Colleges of Nursing received 32-seater buses to ease clinical postings. In addition, government has provided e-libraries in all the Colleges of Nursing and fully furnished demonstration rooms, ICT units, classrooms, and staff offices to meet modern teaching standards.
Through collaboration with NGOs including WHO, the colleges also received 3 x 18-seater buses, medical equipment, instruments, and academic materials.
The state is collaborating with NDDC for the construction of a modern ICT Hub and Administrative Block at the College of Nursing, Obudu. It is also partnering with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to provide property for the Council’s Zonal Office in Calabar.
The Otu administration has prioritized capacity building through continuous training and retraining of nurses and lecturers, with sponsorship for seminars and conferences.
To strengthen regulation, the Governor approved and inaugurated the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee to oversee nursing practice across the state, including private clinics. The government also cleared the backlog of nurse promotions, boosting staff morale and career progression.
Dr. Coco-Bassey said the achievements have repositioned Cross River for national recognition in nursing education and healthcare delivery.
“These landmark strides show that Governor Otu understands that a strong health system starts with well-trained, well-equipped, and well-motivated nurses. The nursing community celebrates His Excellency and prays for more wisdom as he continues to transform our health sector,” he stated.
0 Comments