Akwa Ibom state College of Health Technology, Etinan is in the vanguard of regular training of health professionals in various cadres who are currently providing health-care services across Akwa Ibom state and beyond.
So far, the 30-year-old institution has trained more than 15,000 holders of certificate, national diploma and higher national diploma in different health-related programmes.
The Provost of the college, Mr. David Udo who stated this during the matriculation ceremony of 572 students for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic session said the college is running 16 academic departments in six professional programmes.
Udo applauded governor Udom Emmanuel for demonstrating what he described as strong political and determined will in ensuring the advancement of the institution as exemplified in the passage of the bill to change the status of the institution from just a school to a college, the quick assent by the governor and inclusion of the college’s development in the 2018 budgetary provisions.
He enjoined the matriculating students to count themselves lucky for being offered placement in the college, and advised them to take their studies seriously, reminding them that the academic board of the college will continue to emphasise on extensive class work, health-care related excursions and exchange programmes as prerequisites for graduation.
While thanking all those who have contributed to the growth of the college and the staff for their commitment, the provost mentioned lack of perimeter fencing, inadequate classrooms, desks, laboratory equipment, staffing and materials for practical work as some of the pressing problems of the school, requesting for assistance in these areas.
The Akwa Ibom State commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong who spoke to guests and the matriculating students at the ceremony, said the state government attaches high premium on the optimal health of the populace, hence the support it has accorded the college of health Technology, Etinan to grow.
Ukpong described the institution as an important centre of training said government has provided a substantial amount of money in the 2018 budget for the development of a permanent campus for the school, provision of key infrastructure and accreditation of academic programmes of the college.
The commissioner praised the provost of the college for sustaining activities in the school, and describing him as a man of vision, integrity, and determination, who has managed the resources of the college well.
