The Ondo State Ministry of Health has concluded arrangements with the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, for the take-off of two-year community nursing and midwifery programmes.

The State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, disclosed this after a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, on Tuesday in Akure.

Mr Ajaka decried the blow migration of nurses and midwives for greener pastures abroad had dealt on the health sector in the country.

He said there was need to proffer a lasting solution to the challenge, adding that the Nursing and the Midwifery Council had given approval for the training of 150 community nurses and midwives.

The commissioner said the requirements for application for the training was a minimum of four credits in English language, mathematics, biology, physics or chemistry in the Ordinary Level examination at not more than two sittings.

Mr Ajaka explained that the programme would be a two-year programme and would commence in March 2023.

According to him, the programme is primarily an intervention programme for human resources in the primary health care system.

Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Folukemi Aladenola, said that the intervention was important in order to save the system and the future.

Mrs Aladenola promised that the ministry would continue to partner with the university in providing a well-rounded health sector in the state.

She said that the forms for the programmes were available online  at www//ondocnm.com.ng after the payment of N10,000.

Also speaking, the Director Nursing Services of the ministry, Alice Ogundele, explained that the programmes had the state governor’s approval and that of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Mrs Ogundele said that venue for the programme would be the midwifery section of the former state School of Nursing and Midwifery in Akure, which was used by the University of Medical Sciences.

She explained  that the human resources that would train the community nurses would come from both the  Ministry of Health and the University.

Responding, Prof. Fatusi lauded the collaboration, saying the University community was eager to partner with the ministry with respect to Community Nursing and Midwifery training.

“This programme is for impacting the lives of our people especially the women folks in the state. What you are asking for is possible and we are eager to collaborate,” he said.

Mr Fatusi also requested for more partnership in the sector, particularly in respect to health research in the state.

(NAN)