Tamale, Feb. 12, GNA - Government has given the assurance that it wo= uld continue to invest in the health sector by building more health infrastructure and expanding existing ones to meet the increasing demands. The move is also aimed at facilitating the admission of more students to pursue courses in nursing and other health related disciplines in the country. Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy Northern Regional Minister gave the assurance during the first matriculation ceremony of the Tamale Nursing and Midwifery Training College (TNMTC) held at the College's premises in Tama= le on Saturday.

In all, 1,676 applications were received for the 2010/2011 academic year, out of which 181 students were offered admission and matriculated to pursue a three-year diploma course in General Nursing, and Midwifery. Out of the figure, 136 students, made up of 69 females and 67 males, were matriculated for the general nursing programme whilst additional 45 students, all females, were matriculated for the midwifery programme. Mrs Elizabeth Danso, Matron of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), administered the Oath of Matriculation to the students who formed the 13th batch of diploma in general nursing and the second batch of diploma in midwifery of the TNMTC.

Mr Asabigi said government was aware of the challenges militating against the training of quality health personnel in the country and would continue to invest in the sector to improve the situation. He cited the on-going rehabilitation and expansion works on the TTH an= d the construction and inauguration of five polyclinics for a number of districts in the Region in 2010, as evidence of government's commitment. Mr Asabigi said all district assemblies were required to increase thei= r budgetary allocations for sponsorship of student nurses and provision of decent accommodation for them.

He commended the Management and Staff of all health training institutions in the region for producing the requisite health personnel for the country. He advised the matriculants"to make hard work your watchword and ign= ore the many fleeting detractions that would come seeking your attention". Kpaanaa Bawa, Chief of Kpane and Member of the Council of State, advised the matriculants to be time-conscious because that was necessary fo= r saving the lives of patients. He asked them to be smart with precision and disciplined to enable the= m become successful health workers.

Kpaanaa Bawa called on them to be ready to serve the country at all times, stressing 93your nation first, your people first". Hajia Mohammed Teshayion, Principal of TNMTC, appealed to the government and other stakeholders to provide the college with adequate infrastructure to meet its accommodation challenges saying, the existing facilities could effectively support only 120 students out of its total population of 692.

She said despite the challenges, Management renovated both the male an= d female hostels to accommodate a portion of the students, adding that the skills laboratory and the library have been refurbished and stocked to enhance teaching and learning. Hajia Teshayion commended the staff and other stakeholders of the college for their continued support.