The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has called on the government to contribute their quota towards the development of health institutions because health workers play a critical role in moulding a healthy and virile country.
The former Anambra State governor stated this when he presented a cheque of N10m to the College of Nursing Sciences, Saint Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Obi said, “I remembered that as a primary school boy, I was taught that the first nurse produced in Nigeria was by the Iyi-Enu School of Nursing here in Anambra.
“We need to start contributing our quota to the development of critical institutions like the College of Nursing. I am sure that in time to come, this school will move to greater heights. The nurses are very critical as they are the ones who direct the doctor on what to do.
“The nurse owns the patient, their job is critical and it is needed globally. Nursing is one profession that the world needs. Ours is to continue to support. I will continue to offer my annual yearly support.”
Speaking to journalists after the presentation of the cheque, Obi stated, “It is for us to prioritise in clear terms, the key developmental sectors which are health, education and pulling people out of poverty.
“If we prioritise these and put our resources towards it, it will be very critical. When you talk about health, you talk about primary healthcare providers and health workers.
“We need to support the health workers to train them to be able to have enough manpower to handle that sector and that is what I have come here to do, to support them in the way I can.
“If we train our health workers by supporting college of nursing, there won’t be any need for people to go abroad for medical treatment. Medical tourism with public resources is what we must stop.”
While receiving the cheque on behalf of the college management, the Proprietor, College of Nursing Sciences, St Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Most Rev Valerian Okeke, commended Obi for his continuous support for the college.
Okeke said, “Mine is to thank God and thank our former governor. He has continued to support the college even when he left office. We also thanked others for their goodwill and continuous support and the trust repose on the college. This place was first a school, but was upgraded to a college by the Federal Government trusting that the students who would come will justify it.”
