The Management of Damongo Nurses Training College (DNTC) has commissioned a two-story building complex project in preparation for the introduction of a three-year Midwifery program in Damongo, West Gonja Municipality, Savannah Region.

The facility includes four offices, two Skills Laboratories, a Library, and an Information Communication Technology (ICT) lab.

The building, which is the first of its kind in the history of the school, is expected to improve teaching and learning.

In an exclusive interview with JoyNews, the Principal of the College, Rabi Iddrisu, stated that the completion of the building coincides with the school's plans for the introduction of a Midwifery program, which has been on the college's agenda for years.

She stated that the new building will provide opportunities for students to specialize in Midwifery and advance their careers.

"It hasn't been easy financially, but here we are today, celebrating the results of the small steps we took two years ago for the construction of this multi-story building complex," she added.

“This edifice was fully funded by the College's Internally Generated Fund (IGF) as part of our collective energy to supplement that of the government”, the Principal revealed.

According to Rabi Iddrisu, the College, which has a student population of approximately 830, faces challenges that require the involvement of stakeholders to address.

She stated that the College will relocate the old skills lab, Library and ICT lab to the new two-storey building complex, and "this is where stakeholders and well-wishers can help us equip the centres."

"Currently, the College has 51 functional computers, which is woefully inadequate for all of its intended purposes when compared to the current student population."

"As a result, the college has no choice but to manage it in order for students to take the online licensing examination organized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana (N&MCG)," she insisted.

Rabi Iddrisu also expressed concern about student housing, noting that the school lacks hostel facilities.

She said as a result, the school is forced to spend a fortune each academic year in order to secure near-decent housing for its male students.

She is, therefore, appealing to the government and citizens of the Savannah Region to assist in the construction of a fence wall, which is desperately needed to prevent people and livestock from intruding on the College.

She also stated that transportation is a problem at the College. According to her, the youngest vehicle in the College, a Navara Pickup, is seven years old, while the others are over 15 years old.

"Our situation here in terms of transportation, we have no choice but to channel much of the IGF to servicing and maintaining them."

The Nissan Hardbody pick-up is currently in Kumasi with an engine problem, the College Bus, and the Wingle pick-up, are all with an engine problem.

Looking closely, some of the cars that were brought in here are now very old with weak engines. "As a result, the only vehicle on the road now is the Navara Pick-up, which is consuming a lot of fuel and our IGF," Hajia Rabi Iddrisu noted.

"I was asked to buy a new engine for the one in Kumasi, but the only Pick-up truck I'm currently using broke down with an engine problem. As a result, we were forced to obtain the engine to put in the Navara while still looking for resources to work on the others."

"The school bus, which is primarily used to transport students to clinical placement sites, is now old and can only be used reliably in Damongo," the Principal explained.

Rabi Iddrisu also addressed some student welfare issues. According to her, in the near future, the College will delink the Students Representative Council's (SRC) account from the College to allow the students to operate independently.

She stated that, contrary to rumours that the school had barred students from attending Easter services, the decision to stay was made by the student leadership.

"So, when others hear rumours outside the College and jump to conclusions, it's like a professional liar running around looking for ways to help economize the truth with no sense of professionalism or conciseness to spare," she added.

Meanwhile, the Principal stated that the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has pledged to donate a brand new Pick-up to ease the School's transportation challenges.