Chief Secretary of Nagaland, J Alam, unveiling the NERMPI foundation plaque at CIHSR, Chümoukedima on February 24. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima| February 24
The inception programme of the North East Regional Multi-Disciplinary Paramedical Institute (NERMPI) at Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR), Chümoukedima was held today at LG Hall, with J Alam, Chief Secretary of Nagaland as the chief guest.
Greeting the gathering of medical professionals, dignitaries and students, Alam said it was a matter of ‘great pride’ for the people of Nagaland to have a regional institute in the state which has been a part of the long-committed efforts of the state government for providing improved healthcare services.
He spoke of the crucial role the institution will play in bridging the gap of healthcare resources, marking a significant milestone for Nagaland. ‘Health’ being a priority sector for the government, Alam held that it has over the years made tremendous progress with the inaugural of the first Medical College in Kohima in 2023 and the enrolment of the first batch of 100 MBBS students. He conveyed that the School of Nursing in NHAK Kohima is also being upgraded to College of Nursing and the 150-bedded hospital that is being constructed in NIMSR Kohima will soon be converted into Maternity and Child Hospital. He further spoke of efforts being undertaken to start the second Medical College in Mon district.
“With the growing expansion of healthcare facilities, the demand for healthcare professionals is also going to go up,” stated Alam, even as he maintained that there was already shortage of paramedical staff in Nagaland. “The students who are enrolling in these courses are well placed and have a bright future and career ahead,” he maintained.
While noting the huge demand for paramedical professionals and nurses across the globe, he disclosed that the state has been getting queries from countries like Japan, Mexico etc.
Noting the good working conditions and income of the interested countries, Alam, however underscored the requirement of proficiency in the particular field, which also includes the country’s language proficiency.
Keeping that in view, he informed that the state government has started the Centre for East-Asian Languages in Nagaland University and will soon start Japanese language course. He encouraged the students to think about learning a new language, which will be a great investment for their future.
Terming this as a secondary issue, Alam pointed out the importance of maintaining excellence in their studies and their skills. “Excellence in education is actually the key for development of the state,” he affirmed, while adding, “Unless we maintain that, our human resources will not reach its full potential and that will be a total loss.”
Learning that the institution is among the best in the North-East with the alumni in demand, Alam complimented the pioneers, faculties and individuals involved in building the institute.
He also pointed out that challenges still remain in the service delivery domain, especially, in terms of shortage of trained paramedics creating a barrier to accessing quality healthcare. “We must address this challenge with urgency and resolve. Investing in further paramedic training programmes and increasing healthcare worker recruitment and retention are crucial steps,” he asserted. According to him, it should be a shared objective of all towards maintaining a steady supply of skilled paramedics, who will play a pivotal role in advancing healthcare delivery across the state.
At present, he said that the biggest task is preparing for future diseases and healthcare challenges. In this regard, he advocated a concerted effort towards building a robust healthcare workforce equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
He expressed hope that in 10 years’ time, Nagaland residents will have access to the healthcare that they deserve within Nagaland and do not have to go out in search of medical treatment.
Dr Sedevi Angami, Director, CIHSR expressed gratitude and delight to finally have the first Paramedical college in Nagaland, while noting the presence of a Paramedical training institute in Kohima.
CIHSR is a tripartite partnership between EHA, CMC Vellore and the government of Nagaland and has completed 16 years of its existence.
During the programme, Principal’s address was delivered by Dr B Paul Ravindran. Commendations were conferred to former Assistant Director, Dr Jacob Chacko and former Principal, Allied Health Sciences, Dr Simpson Yovan.
Award for NERMPI Logo & Motto were presented to the winner and runners-up respectively. Simultaneously, the Chief Secretary also unveiled the NERMPI foundation plaque and the institute magazine.
