Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has presented 32-seater buses to the Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences in Itigidi, Calabar, and Ogoja, describing the gesture as part of his administration’s commitment to investing in preventive health and training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Senator Otu stated this during a brief presentation ceremony, held at the Governor’s Office in Calabar, Wednesday highlighting his administration’s transformative “People First” agenda in the health sector.
The Governor emphasized that preventive health is crucial for reducing the high costs of medical care and promoting wellness among the population.
“We have found that the best way to cut costs is to ensure our people remain healthy. Prevention is cheaper than cure, and we are dedicated to strengthening that approach,” he stated.
He used the occasion to announce plans to establish a “medical village” at one of the hospitals in the northern senatorial district, aimed at improving access to quality care while serving as a training hub for nurses and doctorsunderscored the importance of ongoing training and retraining for health professionals to ensure the continuity of quality service.
He further revealed that the State Health Insurance Scheme would continue to receive enhancements to make healthcare more affordable and lessen the financial burden on residents.
Receiving the buses on behalf of the institutions, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, described the donation as “empirical evidence” of the administration’s dedication to health sector reforms.
“Just a few years ago, we had only one accredited training institution, the College of Nursing at Itigidi. Today, thanks to the Governor’s vision and support, we now have four functional and accredited colleges across the state.
"This achievement is not due to excess funding, but rather because the Governor challenged us to demonstrate what can be accomplished with the resources available to us,” Ayuk explained.
He further noted that nursing and midwifery students conduct about 80% of their clinical training outside the classroom, making reliable transportation essential.
“It’s not just about the buses; it’s about ensuring our students can travel to various locations for their practical training. These vehicles will fulfill that essential requirement,” the Commissioner remarked.
Ayuk expressed gratitude on behalf of the Colleges, assuring that the buses would be utilized strictly for their intended purposes and requested that the Governor extend similar support to the College of Nursing in Obudu.
