EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — Usman Farouk Umar has been installed as the new Director of Nyagatare School of Nursing and Midwifery, replacing Ignatius Ahimbisibwe.

Umar was officially introduced before the students by the Minister of Health, Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo on Thursday.

Addressing the students, the minister said that the ministry appointed the new director owing to his experience in the field of nursing and midwifery.

The minister explained that the outgoing director was not sacked but asked the ministry to relieve him of his duties to pursue his studies.

Umar who is also the coordinator of Nigerian medical volunteers in Rwanda, had headed a similar school in Sokoto in Nigeria, and worked as tutor in  Rwanda’s School of Nursing and Midwifery in Rwamagana.

In his acceptance speech, he reassured the minister of his commitment to move the school to high heights.

"I will use every effort to improve the standard of this school,” he said.

Responding to students’ complaints, the minister urged students to be calm whenever they experience problems in their studies.

Clarisse Manishimwe, the president of the students’ committee said the students had petitioned the minister early in February to intervene in problems hindering their academics, after the school had failed to address them.

The problems highlighted  included lack of enough tutors, power shortage, insecurity, and feeding on one type of meal daily (posho, and beans).

Others included; lack of water, poor hygiene in their kitchen, lack of enough books in the library, some tutors failing to compensate for lost hours, which makes it hard to finish the syllabus and lack of student school identity cards.

However, Ntawukuliryayo blamed the students for addressing their concerns directly to the ministry before seeking intervention of area local authorities.

"These are minor issues you should have solved with your administration and district authorities. There was no need for alarm. You have to behave maturely and be able to solve your own problems through consultation and discussions with different authorities,” he said.

On lack of enough materials, the minister urged the students to maximise the use of the available resources. He said students should also consider the country’s economy.

"Our economy is growing so we have to use the resources we have and aim at getting enough resources in future through hard work. Instead of sharing ideas with your administrators for a better future of your school, you are trading blame over minor issues,” the minister added.

Ends