CM announces package for nursing colleges
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has announced a Rs2.5 billion package for nursing colleges besides allocating a quota for candidates seeking admission from underprivileged areas.
Addressing the maiden annual Nursing Convention at Chief Minister Secretariat on Wednesday, he paid rich tribute to the nursing community for its services. He said steps were being taken for the welfare of the nurses.
He also gave away certificates of upgrading to nursing colleges' principals of different districts.
He said the BS in nursing degree programme had been launched after upgrading 44 training schools as colleges.
The chief minster announced that March 2 would be observed as the Nursing Day in Punjab every year.
The nursing students' monthly stipend has been increased from Rs20,171 to Rs31,470.
The chief minister said the posts of nursing instructors, deputy superintendents and clinical instructors had been elevated from grade 17 to 18.
Alongside, government nursing schools of Lahore and Chakwal are being upgraded for the BS in midwifery programme.
"More than 10,000 nursing staff have been recruited and promoted during the past three and a half years," the chief minister said.
Read: Rashid, Buzdar vow to fight against ‘politics of chaos’
Meanwhile, 48,000 doctors and paramedics have also been recruited, while the process is in progress to fill 130,000 posts, he added. A male nursing college has been established in Shahdara Teaching Hospital, along with the introduction of online admissions in the programme, he stated.
The government has also completed affiliation of 16 nursing colleges with medical universities, the CM added.
He said the doctors and nurses had rendered invaluable services during the coronavirus pandemic.
The chief minister said the past governments did not pay attention to the nursing sector, but the incumbent government had increased the budget to more than double.
He said Rs403 billion had been allocated for the health sector in the province this year as eight mother and child hospitals were being constructed along with 23 new government hospitals.
In addition, Rs400 billion has been allocated to give the national health cards to 30 million families in Punjab for providing them free healthcare facilities. The programme has already started in seven divisions where 73 per cent of the population of the province is benefitting from the facility, he noted.
The chief minister said the whole population of Punjab would benefit from the programme by the end of the ongoing month.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid also spoke on the occasion.
A guard of honour was presented to nurses in recognition of their meritorious role before the start of the convention that was chaired by the chief minister.
He paid glowing tribute to the nurses for their role, saying they had always set a high example of serving the humanity, including during the coronavirus pandemic.
The chief minister also had lunch with the nurses and assured them of solving their problems. According to an official announcement, the nurses thanked the CM for paying attention to a neglected part of the health sector along with ensuring the solution of their longstanding problems.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2022.