The Rivers State government said henceforth they would look into the funding, building of a library and the constitution of the governing council of the College of Health and Science and Technology, PortHarcourt.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi dropped the hint during the 14th convocation ceremony of the institution which took place at the school field on May 5, 2012.
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, the visitor to the institution, stated that the school has fulfilled its mandate by providing middle level manpower in the primary health sector which has tremendously helped in improving quality health care in the state.
Governor Amaechi who was represented on the occasion by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Emeka Nwogu, commended the authorities of the institution in sustaining peace on the campus, stating that the government was making everything possible to absorb all the students who have finished their programmes.
He said the issue of the constitution of the governing council, funding of the institution and building of a quality library would be looked into in no distant time.
Earlier, the provost of the college, Dr. Nnanna Victor Onyekwere, in his address, told the visitor and other dignitaries that the school has fulfilled its original mandate of creating and training people to mount the primary health system in the state.
“The college of Health Science and Technology has successfully delivered its mandate,” the provost said.
Dr. Onyekwere stated that the school has provided laboratory with modern equipment, hostel renovation and building and equipping new structures and that the college has proposed some new courses to meet the prevailing challenges in the society, such as x-ray technicians, health management course and remedial programmes, among others.
He said the school needed full accreditation of few of her courses. The provost said the college has not received any grant from the state government to run the institution as the students are asked to pay some certain amounts for the purpose of running the school administration.
He expressed confidence on the building of the school library, saying it is in this year’s state government budget, and that the college contributes over 90 percent of the workforce used in both the state and the LGAs.
In an interview shortly after the occasion, the provost of the college told journalists that they source for money for the administration of the institution, while thanking the visitor, Rt. Hon. Amaechi, for coming.
The commissioner for Health, Dr. Samson Parker, in his address said government in the near future would doing everything possible to employ those who passed out of the college as a scheme is being prepared to accommodate them.
He said very soon home-based healthcare would be introduced in the state, where students and health workers would be engaged in community mapping and clearing excise to reduce the amount of disease in the society.
Speaking to journalists, the Hon. member representing Abua/Odua local government area in the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the House chairman, committee on Education, Hon. Augustine Paul Ngo, said he was delighted to be honoured by the school along with great men such as the former governor of the state, Sir. Dr. Peter Odili.
He stated that the dichotomy between the Health and Nursing institutions is unnecessary, but promised that the Assembly will do their best in re-constituting of the governing council.
Hon. Ngo said the dreams of establishing the college has been fulfilled, but stressed that the battle for the nurses to opt out and go separate ways was unnecessary.
It would be recalled that the college has earlier organized a convocation, lecture, a thanksgiving service, football match, among others.
The convocation lecture has Prof. M. J. Ahiakwo as chairman and the theme was, “Health for All: The Role of the Colleges of Health Technology,” delivered by erudite Prof. Alice Romokek Nte, of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt and Dept of Pediatrics UPTH.
Prof. Nte stated that it is government’s responsibility to provide access road, quality health, water and constant electricity to increase better healthcare service to the people.
She frowned at the situation where people use alternative medicine because of lack of workers at their duty posts, saying that the government needed enough manpower to take care of the Health challenges in the state.
Highlight of the event was an honorary award to Dr. Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State, Hon. Paul Ngo and Dr. Emi Membere Otaji and the commendation by the SUG president of the college Mr. Nyekuchi Daniel and the Speaker. ###
Pius Dukor
