Gujarat Chief Minister inaugurates Institute of Nursing Education and Research
Gujarat in a mode to correct 50 years’ neglect in health and medical education: CM
Healthcare not only about big hospitals or large machines, it is as much about developing human resources: CM
We increased seats in medical education. This way poor parents do not have to pay large sums in donations: CM
On the occasion of International Nurses Day on Saturday 12th May 2012, Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Institute of Nursing Education and Research as part of the Rs.14-crore Nursing Training Complex being set up by Gujarat Government’s Health Department in the Asia’s biggest Civil Hospital premises in Ahmedabad.
Speaking during the occasion, Shri Modi said that healthcare is not only about building mammoth hospitals or getting latest machines but also about creating proper human resource development in the sector. He said that for the past 50 years, Gujarat had neglected healthcare sector and that had medical colleges, nursing colleges, paramedical staff training been set up earlier, things would haven different. But, Gujarat is determined to change this injustice to the health sector, Shri Modi pointed out.
The Chief Minister said that we are a young nation, with 65% of our population under 35 and this can be a great impetus to harness talent in the nursing field. He also remarked that today there was a shortage of nurses across the world and this is where India’s youth can contribute.
Shri Modi also spoke on the lack of farsightedness in medical education that prevailed in Gujarat and even in the nation. He pointed out that the Gujarat Government was raising large number of seats in medical education even on courses of nursing. This way, the menace of poor parents having to pay large sums of money, as donation would end, the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister stated that after independence, Gujarat’s drive to raise medical seats has been the most by any state within the timeframe of a calendar year.
On the occasion, Shri Modi also said that a component of research was put into the courses and that he wished teaches and students would together do research in the fields of health and nursing.
Mr. Modi said there is need to accord the importance of nursing in the society as enshrined in Charak Samhita, as practiced by Mahatma Gandhi in nursing leprosy patients back to health. Nursing should not be treated merely as a profession, but as an expression of feelings and compassion. He cited the example of Gujarat’s 108 service that been well known across the world. Shri Modi said that drivers of ambulances had received training in human resource development! Thus, why should nurses be left behind?
Shri Modi opined that he knew of several nurses who had reported to duty even when their own children were ill. He lauded their determination and said that a book of such case studies should also be studied during as a part of coursework of a nurse’s education.
Health Minister Shri Jay Narayan Vyas said that Gujarat has increased seats in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in nursing, with a view to providing specialized manpower to the world.
Principal Secretary for Health Shri Rajesh Kishore earlier delivered the welcome address.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Minister of State for Law Shri Pradeepsinh Jadeja, Dr. Kirist Solanki, MP, MLAs, senior officers of civil hospital, doctors and students and NRHM Mission Director Ms. Anju Sharma.
