The Damongo Nursing and Midwifery Training College has held its 19th Annual Matriculation Ceremony, formally ushering newly admitted students into the institution. The ceremony took place on Thursday, December 17, at the school’s auditorium.
In her welcome address, the Principal of the college, Hajia Shirley Issah, highlighted the significance of matriculation as a formal acceptance into the nursing and midwifery profession and a commitment to the core values of discipline, hard work, and excellence that define the institution.
A total of 296 students were matriculated into various programmes, comprising 118 Registered General Nursing (RGN) students, 77 Registered Midwifery students, and 111 Registered Nurse Assistant (RNA) students.
Hajia Shirley Issah expressed gratitude to the students for choosing the college to mould them into professional nurses and midwives, assuring them of management’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for academic excellence while prioritising student welfare.
She, however, reminded the students that gaining admission was only the first step, stressing that academic progression and retention in the school depend entirely on consistent performance and adherence to academic standards.
She urged the matriculants to study diligently, take responsibility for maintaining a conducive learning environment, and strive to meet or exceed all institutional requirements to avoid academic setbacks.
The Principal also used the occasion to appeal to the Savannah Regional Minister, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders to support the school in addressing persistent infrastructural challenges.
Despite efforts to expand facilities, she noted that the college still faces serious constraints, including inadequate hostel accommodation, which affects effective student management and supervision, insufficient buses for clinical practicals, a poorly furnished ICT centre, and other infrastructural deficits limiting the school’s ability to run degree programmes.
She described the situation as worrying, particularly as the institution is the oldest nursing and midwifery training college in the Savannah Region and is located in the regional capital, yet remains one of the most deprived.
The Savannah Regional Minister in his address assured the school that government is working to introduce additional professional programmes at the college in due course.
He disclosed that efforts are also underway to secure GETFund support to improve existing infrastructure.
The Minister encouraged the matriculated students to pay close attention to detail in their training, noting that negligence in the health profession can have serious consequences.
The ceremony was attended by traditional authorities, education and health sector stakeholders, staff, and students.
Source: kashafmonline.com
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