State health and family welfare (H&FW) minister P Paiwang Konyak on Tuesday disclosed that the state government was contemplating increasing the number of schools of nursing in the state by introducing a school of nursing in almost all the districts.
He said this while speaking at the 75 years celebration programme of the School of Nursing, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), which was held at Molu Ki, Merhülietsa here Tuesday on the theme “Nurturing Nurses, Transforming Lives: Celebrating a Legacy”.
The minister pointed out that the Centre had sanctioned two nursing colleges attached to medical colleges—one at the Nagaland Institute of Medical Science & Research (NIMSR) Kohima and the other at the upcoming Mon Medical College.
He said that establishing nursing colleges would address the workforce shortage, improve accessibility to nursing education and enhance quality health care. Paiwang Konyak said that the demand for nurses had been continuously increasing both at domestic and international level.
He said increasing the number of schools of nursing would impart training for job opportunities and also make nursing a viable and rewarding career choice for many.
The minister stated that the Auxiliary Nurse and Mid-Wifery/Female Health Workers and Staff Nurse were covered with the same service rule. Therefore, in line with ANM/FHW, he said the health department has proposed to fill up all vacant posts of staff nurse on the same principle of 50:50—50% through direct recruitment (NPSC) and 50% through queue system up to the 2020 batch—as has been allotted to ANM/FHW.
The minister expressed confidence that the cabinet would approve the proposal soon.
“This will ensure fairness, equity and promote merit to all the trained nurses in the state,” Paiwang said.
On the occasion of 75 years celebration, the minster said that today was a day to honour the journey of the Nursing School NHAK, which shaped and nurtured generations of compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals.
Over the years, he said the healthcare landscape has changed significantly, but what remained constant was the role of the nurse as the heartbeat of care.
He said that nurses were the ones who offered not just medical assistance but a hand to hold, a calming presence in times of fear and a voice of hope. Paiwang said the School of Nursing, NHAK has played an integral role in cultivating those vital traits and skills in every nurse that walked through its doors.
As nurses play a critical role in the healthcare system, the minister therefore called for embracing technological advancements, which he said was vital as it would enhance their roles, improve patient care and contribute to the evolution of the healthcare delivery system in a rapidly changing digital world.
“We also owe a gratitude to the two Spanish Catholic nuns: Sister Margaret and Sister Paula and other four Doctors: Dr. Bordoloi, Dr. Saikia, Dr. Dutta, Dr. T.Ao and Dr. Thakur who first served as main trainers and teachers respectively. They have imparted knowledge and wisdom and the values of this institution during the initial period of this institution in 1949,” the minister added.
At the programme, principal director Dr.E Motsuthung Patton also gave a speech.
Dr. Christy Simpson former principal college of Nursing CIHSR Chumoukedima spoke on the “Nursing Nurses,Transforming lives : Celebrating a legacy”. Retired joint director nursing DHFW L. Abenla Jamir gave exhortation. Earlier, KABA senior pastor Rev. Sentisashi Aier offered invocation and Chang Baptist church pastor S.Anungla gave benediction.