Kwara needs more Colleges Of Health Technology – Don

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

President, Health Education Practitioners of Nigeria, an affiliate of Association of Health Educators of Nigeria, Prof. Sheu Adaramaja, has advocated the establishment of more Colleges of Health Technologies in Kwara state to address the shortage of middle level manpower in the health sector, saying medicine and nursing professionals can hardly cope without enough middle level manpower whose services are mostly required in the rural areas and basic primary health centres.

Adaramaja, who teaches at the University of Ilorin, spoke at the second matriculation ceremony of King Leo College of Health Technology, Okolowo Ilorin.

The ceremony which was conducted for 35 new intakes of the college was held at its permanent site, Lamba, near Alapa, a suburb of Ilorin.

Adaramaja said the establishment of the institution would go a long way in addressing emerging health challenges which ought to be nipped in the bud in the primary health care centres.

He said: “Many people may be asking that what are we doing here today. The establishment of this school is important to address the gap in the shortage of middle level manpower in primary health care .

“Medicine and Nursing can hardly produce manpower that will go into rural areas to render required health services.

“We only have one College of Health Technology established by the Kwara state government and that is the one located in Offa and its products cannot serve the population of 16 Local government areas of Kwara state.

“If you go far north, you will see multiple of this type of schools that are established.”

The university teacher, however, urged the community to ensure social security for the school’s infrastructure, its staff and students for them to enjoy the benefits of establishing such in the community.

He urged the school proprietor to float a medical centre in the area to provide medical services to the host community.

Proprietor of the school, Dr. Olakunle Abideen, said the institution has recorded major growth, a reason for which it had to be moved to a new site, adding that he invested in the school as part of his own contribution to the health sector development.

Provost of the College Sunday Alabi said the school has recorded increased enrollment because of its” rising profile.