Oshiomhole signs Healthcare Agency Bill into law

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has signed a Bill establishing the State College of Nursing and Midwifery into law.

The governor also signed into law the Primary HealthCare Development Agency Bill to regulate healthcare.

Governor Oshiomhole

At the ceremony yesterday, Oshiomhole said: “We have a Bill establishing Edo State College of Nursing and Midwifery and Other Matters. Although we have a School of Nursing, but there were huge gaps. We checked all the records and the Ministry of Justice. There was no law formally establishing the institution, which raises legal issues about the status of the institution. So, we agreed and forwarded a draft bill to the House of Assembly to formally pass the Bill, to enable us, as it were, formally establish by law the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

“This is an old institution. It has produced several nurses and midwives over the years. Somehow, there was no formal set-up and, as they say, better late than never.

“The School of Nursing was established many years ago. I think at the level of the Federal Ministry of Health, there are issues arising from the absence of enabling laws with regards to the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Edo State.

“Again, I want to appreciate Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Principal Officers of the House and, indeed, all members of the House of Assembly for passing the Nursing Amendment, which has gone to enrich our institution.

“I now have the honour to formally sign it into law. Of course, with the enactment of this law, that legal vacuum that existed over the years has been filled. I believe the Commissioner for Health and all those involved in health administration will be relieved as a result of this enactment.”

Oshiomhole added: “We have a law that provides for the establishment of Primary Health Care Development Agency and Other Matters Connected Therewith.

“This particular legislation is an Executive Bill, which the House of Assembly has graciously considered and passed for the Executive to sign into law. Over the period, different levels of government, for variety of reasons, have devoted huge resources constructing various health centres, primary health care centres in the 18 local government areas. “Some were built by Federal Government through the so-called constituency projects; some by local government areas and some by the state government and some through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agency…”

Oshiomhole signs Healthcare Agency Bill into law