Minister of State for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare, Ms. Asiea Naqash today said the government will soon setup three nursing colleges in the state.She was speaking at a function organized on the eve of International Nurses Day at GMC Srinagar organized by J&K Nurses Association. The theme of this year’s program was “A force for Change-Improving health System’s Resilience”.Ms. Naqash said the government is currently in process of establishing three nursing colleges at Baramulla, Rajouri and Anantnag with an intake capacity of 80 students every year.She said there is a dearth of such colleges in the state and students had to go outside to peruse degrees in nursing. She said five general nursing schools are functional at various districts and government is in process of establishing more general, nursing schools at Pulwama, Kulgam, Sopore , JLNM Srinagar, Kokernag and Bandipora.
The Minister also called for a High-tech training programme for the nursing students in the colleges and schools and said the government is committed to provide facilities for the students. She said the government already provides scholarships to the candidates desirous to undergo the training in private colleges, provided the college is affiliated with the government of J&K.Lauding the role of nurses in hospitals, the Minister said the nurses in state worked round the clock despite huge work load in the hospitals as compared to other medical staff.She said the government will consider all the genuine demands of the nurses and asked them to come up with their grievances through proper channels so that their grievances could be considered.Principal GMC Prof Kaisar Ahmad, President Kashmir Nursing Association and Medical Superintendent SMHS Dr Nazir Chaudhary besides other officials and nurses were present on the occasion.