Again, Imoke says Cross River to meet MDGs by 2015
Desirous of meeting the primary healthcare need of the state as well as attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, Governor Liyel Imoke has the immediate engagement of the 222 graduates of the College of Heath Technology, Calabar, by Local Government Service Commission, as a matter of priority.
Speaking at the seventh matriculation of the college, Governor Liyel Imoke who had earlier commissioned an ultra-modern classroom block comprising a workshop, laboratories and lecture auditoriums, disclosed it was important that the graduates were given attention because of the special demands for their services.
According to him, 'By training and building capacity of the entire students, it is important that the graduates of this institution contribute meaningfully to the development of the society.'
The governor said: 'Its programmes are designed in a way that its graduates should have jobs waiting for them rather than train people who are unemployable,' adding that health and education were important for the development of the society, noting that it was important that the quality of service improves.
While urging the graduates of the institution to be professional in the discharge of their duties, Imoke advised that they should be patient in what they do because their services were not favours but their responsibility as part of their training entails them to give hope for healing and recovering.
The Governor said though it was important to commission the ultra-modern building for education and training, he, however, noted that the quality of training was more important, even as he urged the school to set target and ensure that its graduates meet the requirements of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Governor Imoke noted that 'the quality of training and academic staff is important as we strive to complete other projects, it is important that those engaged in teaching, engage in continuous training and learning. We must insist that all those who are professionals undergo training and updating because there is evolution in training and education.'
On the issue of staff promotion, Imoke assured that it would be addressed because the expectation from government was significant just as the expectation from them was also high.
Commissioner for Health, Prof (Mrs.) Angela Oyo-Ita, who described the college as one of the best in the country, lauded the governor's passion for healthcare delivery and education which had impacted in the health indices of the state.
Dr, Franklin Ani, Rector of the college attributed the increase in the number of matriculating students to 628 to increase in departments and programmes. He disclosed that while the Ordinary Diploma courses have been accredited by NBTE, they were expecting letters of authorisation from the board on their Higher National Diploma programmes.
Ani disclosed that the 232 room three-storey hostel block currently under construction, which would be completed in November, would provide accommodation during the National Sports Festival which the state is hosting.