The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has commended the Ekiti State Government for what it described as a significant transformation of the state’s health sector.
The council’s accreditation team lead, Prof Joel Aluko, gave the commendation during an accreditation visit for the nursing internship programme at the State Specialist Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti.
Prof Aluko, said it was commendable that the state government was facilitating internship training in a secondary health facility, describing the move as rare in Nigeria.
He said the council was concerned about the growing number of graduate nurses from universities who were struggling to secure placements for their mandatory internship.
According to him, in view of the challenges, the council is open to approving any health institution for internship training, provided it meets the required criteria.
Prof Aluko said the council assesses indices such as human resources, infrastructure, tools and equipment, as well as the availability of relevant instruments in the hospitals seeking accreditation.
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He also praised the philanthropic gesture of Chief Wole Olanipekun at the hospital, noting that newly constructed buildings and donated equipment had positioned the facility to deliver quality healthcare services.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Hospital Management Board, Dr Austine Ibikunle, and the Permanent Secretary of the board, Dr Olasunkanmi Alabi, described the move as timely and a step in the right direction.
They said the accreditation would enable prospective interns to receive the requisite training needed to perform effectively in their roles.
The officials expressed optimism that, with the available structures, personnel and state-of-the-art medical equipment at the hospital, the accreditation process would be concluded promptly.
Dr Alabi said accreditation would mean nurses are trained at the facility and available to strengthen the institution’s workforce.
Earlier, the Director of Nursing at the Ministry of Health, Mrs Foluke Olaiya, and the Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Ekiti State chapter, Mr Samuel Adegbuyi, said internship training was a crucial stage in the development of the nursing profession.
They noted that the internship programme certifies nurses as qualified professionals.
The senior nurses expressed confidence that, given the Ekiti State government’s investment in the hospital, the accreditation exercise would be successful.