The Imo House of Assembly has called on Gov. Hope Uzodimma to approve the establishment of a College of Nursing at Inyishi in Ikeduru Local Government Area.

The call was contained in a resolution passed by the house on Thursday.

The resolution was the outcome of a motion sponsored by the member representing Ikeduru State Constituency, Johnleoba Iheoha.

Presenting the motion, Mr Iheoma said that the present administration’s insurance policies and essential medical equipment had led to an improvement in the quality of health services in the state.

He also said that the 305 primary health centres and providing health services at the rural level would require a lot of manpower to function effectively.

The lawmaker, therefore, said that there was an urgent need to train more nurses and health professionals to augment those already in training at existing nursing and health colleges in the state.

He said that some Imo citizens travel to neighbouring states to acquire nursing and health training to the benefit of those states.

Mr Iheoha, therefore, prayed the house to recommend to the governor the need to establish a College of Nursing Sciences at Community Hospital, Inyishi Ikeduru.

He also prayed the house to recommend to the governor to direct the state ministry of health to carry out an inspection tour of the community for the proposed college.

Supporting the motion, the Mbaitoli representative, Innocent Ikpamezie (APC ), said that establishing a new college of nursing would reduce the pressure on the existing ones.

The majority leader, Kanayo Onyemaechi (APC-Owerri West), further said that a new nursing college would also help to create more job opportunities in the state.

Contributing, the Ehime Mbano representative, Ben Ozoemelam (APC), said that the training of more nurses in the state would help improve the current patients to nurses ratio.

Mr Ozoemelam said it would also reduce the workload of health professionals who, he said, were currently being overworked as a result of the dearth of trained healthcare workers.

The Speaker, Chike Olemgbe (APC-Ihitte Uboma), thereafter, ruled in favour of the prayers, following the unanimous voice vote in favour of the motion.

(NAN)