Nursing students at the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) have been boycotting their medical duties and classes for the past three-days in protest against the proposal to shift their college from the hospital premises.
At Bandlaguda
Students say health officials have proposed shifting the nursing hostel and college to the Bandlaguda Rajiv Swagruha complex, located at a fair distance from OGH.
“It is illogical to shift our the facilities to Bandlaguda, which is far away from the hospital. We also demand that the nursing college and hostels be made part of the plans for the new OGH building, when it comes-up,” the nursing students said.
There are close to 250 nursing students pursuing General Nursing and 200 students for the B.Sc Nursing course at OGH. All 450 have joined the protest and boycotted classes and medical duties for the past few days.
Senior nurses join in
Meanwhile, senior government nurses have also extended support to the cause of the students by taking part in the protests. They too have criticised the proposal to shift the nursing college and hostel facilities to a ‘far-off place’.
“Nurses are emergency health workers and they have to stay close to the hospital. Instead of maintaining silence, the government should clarify on this issue,” said Government Nurses Association president M. Annamma.
Security concerns
The agitating students have also raised logistical and security concerns with regard to the shift.
“Will authorities guarantee safety of the students? Will they provide transport between hostels and hospitals?” the students said.
