Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010
Madurai: Madurai Apollo College of Nursing, attached to the Apollo Group of Hospitals, was inaugurated at KK Nagar here on Monday by R. Murugesan, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University of Technology-Madurai and Josephine Little Flower, Registrar, Tamil Nadu Nursing and Midwives Council.

Mr. Murugesan appreciated the efforts of Apollo Group in taking medical education and quality healthcare to rural areas. On the nursing profession, he said that even when the engineering students could not get hundred per cent placements anymore, it was only the nursing students who had that privilege. Medical tourism was flourishing in India in a big way. Value-based education was most needed for this country with a huge youth force in the world. Rohini Sridhar, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director, Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Madurai, said that Apollo Hospitals Educational Research Foundation had embarked on an ambitious project in education and research. The nursing college was equipped with all the facilities and the first batch of B.Sc. Nursing course would begin on September 15.

The College was affiliated to Dr. MGR Medical University and recognised by Indian Nursing Council and Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council, she said.

Ms. Flower said that Nurses were much sought after in the United States and Middle East. Service was the keyword in this profession.

Latha Venkatesan, Principal, Chennai Apollo College of Nursing, said that 35 students had joined the college and the facility would move to a new campus at Eliyarpathi in a couple of years. Speaking about the contribution of nursing community to the economy, she recalled the budget speech made by Manmohan Singh when he was Finance Minister where he had stated that “Indian nurses working abroad need to be appreciated as they bring in so much of foreign exchange.'

Helen M. Perdita, Principal, Apollo College of Nursing, Madurai, delivered the vote of thanks.