Manipur Heath director Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang on Friday said the Health Services team started an enquiry on the status of nurses in private hospitals across the state so that the directorate can “bargain with the hospitals” to improve the status of nurses in private hospitals.
He was speaking at a ‘Capping, Lamp Lighting and Oath Taking Ceremony’ of the 21st batch ANM/FHW of the Female Health Workers' Training School, Imphal at RD Wing Complex in Lamphel, Imphal West.
He asserted that it is the responsibility of the Health Services to ensure that the passed out nurses are well looked after. He pointed out that nurses are exposed to limited facilities in both private and government sectors though they are the backbone of the healthcare facilities.
Stressing the need for a well-maintained recreational room for nurses in every healthcare centre, he said that the Health Service is working at its best to ensure that the statuses of nurses are well maintained.
Regarding the high demand for nurses from Manipur in foreign countries, the director said it is not a good option when it comes to job security. In such foreign studies programme, only Japan has made an ad hoc arrangement, and they are ready to absorb only the best of the best and the rest will be sent back, he explained.
Demand for nurses is high in overseas countries, but there is no job security. So it is not a good option for all. The Japanese Government requested 10-20 nurses but only an ad hoc arrangement as they are ready to absorb only the best one.
Regarding the grievances faced by the nurses’ community, the director suggested the nurses of Manipur to be united and raised their issue to the authority concerned.
Replying to grievances of the school raised by its principal Th Sanatombi Devi during the keynote address, he informed that seven buses have been ordered by the directorate to facilitate the nursing students during their community service programme.
Dr Sasheekumar also assured to do the needful to reassess the aging buildings of the school and hostel.
Concluding his speech, the director apprised the passed out nurses to work with dedication and commitment and always confine themselves to the pledge taken during the oath even after their retirement, as nursing is a lifelong noble profession.
Principal of the school in her keynote address informed that since its establishment the school has so far produced as many as 1,184 nurses.
She pointed out that the school which has a capacity of 80 students is run by only five teachers (one in maternal leave) at present. She stressed the need of sanctioning more teaching staff so that the school meets the standard teachers-students proportion of 1:10.
Altogether, 38 passed out students took the oath which was administered by the principal during the Friday’s ceremony.
Meanwhile, five final year students and four first year students who were included in the top 10 position in the recent examination undertaken by the Manipur Nursing Council in October 2022 were also felicitated.
The programme was also attended by additional director of Family Welfare Services Dr O Sanahabi and registrar of Manipur Nursing Council Dr A Jamuna Devi as presidium members.
