Imphal, April 20: Acknowledging technical difficulties and myriad inconveniences endured by nursing institutes located in the State, Health Minister Pheiroijam Parijat affirmed that the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government is committed to setting up State's own Nursing Council at the earliest.

Speaking as the chief guest at the lamp lighting and oath taking ceremony of the Rabi School of Nursing, Ningthoukhong, Sangaiprou Branch's 11th batch at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy today, the Minister observed once the Nursing Council is established problems like getting affiliation and travel-related expenditure could be reduced to a large extent.

noting that numerous nursing institutes under the Assam State Nursing Council had sprung up in the State, Parijat also expressed that once Manipur has its own Council not only would affiliation inconveniences could be addressed suitably but quality institutes and not quantity could also be ensured.

Maintaining that relevant process for establishment of State's Nursing Council had already been initiated, he exuded confidence that once established nursing ethics could be imbibed to the nurse aspirants, instructors and the institutes itself.

Conveying that manipur today requires quality nurses to meet the challenges of various health related inadequacies, the chief guest reiterated Government's unflinching commitment towards setting up the Council sooner than later.

chairperson of Rabi School of Nursing Binasakhi Thokchom presided the ceremony while the guests of honour included Superintendent of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Dr Y Mohen Singh, former AMSU president P Premananda Meitei, administrative officer of Raj Polyclinic Thoiba Oinam, Managing director of Public Hospital M Tajuddin and secretary of Rabi School of Nursing Rabi Thokchom.

In his address, Dr Mohen categorically commented that most nurses churned out from private institutes are mediocre in terms of quality whereas those trained under Government managed nursing schools are competent/efficient.

Strongly advocating a mechanism to control mushrooming of nursing schools in the State before the matter spirals out of hand, the RIMS Superintendent revealed that out of 1800 aspirants interviewed for induction into the RIMS Hospital majority of the candidates lacked precision in answering question of their chosen profession.

Lighting of lamp/candle and dedicating the same at the portrait of Florence Nightingale by passed-out students of the School's 11th batch and presentation of cultural programmes marked today's ceremony.

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