Dimapur | December 10:Forty-eight years after Nagaland attained statehood, the state is finally getting the first college of nursing attached to the Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR), Dimapur.
Nagaland Governor, Nikhil Kumar, unveiled the foundation stone of the College of Nursing on Saturday, in presence of state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Health & Family Welfare Minister Kuzholuzo Nienu, PHED Minister, Dr. Ngangshi Ao, CIHSR staff and doctors led by CIHSR Director, Dr. Abraham Joseph, and a host of government officials and invitees.
The Governor in his address at the foundation stone unveiling programme said that one challenge before CIHSR is to become a centre of excellence - to be a “shining light” in terms of healthcare, treatment and nursing in entire North East Region.
Terming nursing as a noble profession, the Governor said that in almost all good hospitals in the country, the nurses are mainly from Kerala and the Northeastern states.
“This is a wonderful legacy in its own way that we have to carry forward,” Kumar said and hoped that CIHSR with its “missionary zeal” will be able to produce dedicated and committed nurses.
He also said that he would be delighted to see that a majority of students who come to the new college of nursing are Nagas as Naga nurses are “very dedicated, committed and very, very aware of what is expected of them.”
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his address said that CIHSR (formerly Referral Hospital), which was started in the early eighties remained a “big white elephant” till the state government signed MoU with CMC Vellore and Emmanuel Hospital Group four years ago. Since then, the hospital has been growing from strength to strength, the Chief Minister said.
Rio said that even after 48 years of statehood, the fact that Nagaland state has only two GNM institutes and now one PBBSC college is an indication that healthcare in the state has been totally neglected by the Government of India and, perhaps, Naga people themselves. Rio said this was partly because the State had wasted too much time and resources on insurgency, neglecting the welfare of the people.
The Chief Minister also noted that even the approach road to CIHSR has been encroached upon, and solicited cooperation of landowners so that the approach road is at least a two-lane road.
Implying that Nagas must change their mindset to move ahead with the times, Rio referred to his visit to Moscow city with its advancement and colossal buildings; the chief minister commented “Moscow is bigger than big. But when I think about Nagaland, it is smaller than small.”
Stating that healthcare is most important, Rio said the state government has already written to the Prime Minister to sanction required fund for setting up of a medical college in Nagaland.
Health & Family Welfare Minister Kuzholuzo Nienu who also spoke on the occasion, described the unveiling of the foundation stone for college of nursing as a red letter day. He also assured that the Health department would try its best to provide quality and timely healthcare services to the people.
Earlier, CIHSR Director, Dr. Abraham Joseph, in his welcome address said that the small but dedicated staffs of CIHSR have been striving to exemplify the vision of the institute-excellence and compassionate care with social responsibility.
Commissioner & Secretary, H&FW, Menukhol John proposed the vote of thanks. Earlier, the Governor and Chief Minister also inaugurated the private ward of CIHSR.
