More than a fortnight ago, this newspaper had reported that the prestigious schools of nursing in the state have lost their accreditation; the public is yet to hear a position from the Ministry of Health on the fate of these Schools of Nursing apart from that empty statement from the Health Commissioner Dr. Ememabasi Bassey that they are on top of the situation.
The schools of nursing, from the inception have been an avenue for medical studies for students who may not have had the resources to study nursing in the university. To them, the school of nursing was a better alternative to actualize their dreams with the hope of contributing meaningfully to the society after their graduation.
Akwa Ibom Schools of nursing hitherto had been one of the best in the country but we were expected to improve beyond turning out graduates by the year, we were expected to fix up our structures and all the equipments that need to be fixed to stand the test of time. But alas, government failed to do that despite pressures and begging from the management of these schools. Before the lost of accreditation of these institutions, the school had carved an enviable niche for itself and has attracted development to the state in its own little way.
This ultimately implies that for an effective result to be achieved, a lot of infrastructures must be put in place to ensure that learners are well taught, bred and made to experiment and test their knowledge.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the school of nursing exists to teach and instruct would-be nurses when the technicalities and requirements to perform are not there.
It is also very unfortunate to note that this is happening in the era of the much hyped uncommon transformation. Does this mean that some people were not working? Or is it sabotage to the said good works already done? If someone should be fingered, who should he/she be?
Obviously, the event which led to the schools, losing their accreditation did not begin when the Rubicon was crossed. A visit to these schools present a sore repulsive sight when taken into consideration what is expected of an institution that has to do with the health and ultimately life of the people. The ordious stink emanating from the inhospitable mortuary is not just a threatening health hazard to the sick ones, but to the student-nurses as well.
The students should not be made to administer treatment to the indisposed under-conditions that would affect them psychologically and health-wise. Apart from the residential areas which are kept clean by the students, other areas are often littered and unkempt. Some facilities have been placed on embargo due to delayed repairs and malfunctioning; some classrooms have been overtaken by cobwebs ad insects while the wards and other units wear a weary, depressed and worn-out look.
The school of nursing at Ituk Mbang presents the most sorry sight as it portrays the depth of abandonment by the government. A visit to the post-natal area of it on a rainy day will reveal a mind-depressing condition. The roof leaks and if uncontrolled can result in an internal flooding of the entire house. The weeds and grasses grow undisturbed; the birds enjoy nesting on trees shading an enormous heap of refuse and rubbish.
In their attempt to engender the correction of these ills, the nursing and midwifery council inspection team suspended the school’s activities pending the time the school will attain the needed requirement for its existence. The question on everybody’s mind is, ‘how long will this suspension last?”
Indeed, only the State Ministry of Health can tell the fate of the Schools of nursing as the implication of this is that there will be no admission into the schools again up until the lapses are corrected. If this is true, it also denotes that the medical activities within the schools will be made to hang due to shortage or lack of personnel to handle them. That is, the sick will have no one to attend to them and the tutors will go home.
It is the view of THE INK that the effort of those affiliated to this Ministry formerly & presently to exonerate themselves from this mess is not only a threat to the state’s prestige but a death call on ailing citizens. Efforts should therefore be made to reinstate the badly battered image of the school and to restore her pride and importance in the state.
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