Divine Word University’s training of future nurses to improve the health indicators in the country was strengthened in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
This was signed between the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority and the Catholic Diocese of Wewak on July 11th 2023.
This significant partnership will see the placement of the university’s Nursing Students at the newly built Wewak Provincial Hospital and other health facilities managed by the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority (ESPHA) and the Catholic Health facilities run by the Catholic Diocese of Wewak (CDW).
‘Working in Partnership’ is Key Result Area (KRA) 2 of the National Health Plan 2021- 2031. It is where partner organizations share resources and harness strengths in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Speaking at the occasion, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Dr Clement Manineng expressed gratitude to the heads of the partnering organizations for their willingness to share in the challenge of producing better trained high quality nurses for the health system in the country.
“On behalf of President, Professor Fr Philip Gibbs, we are so thankful for the opportunity to work with you in the agenda of quality training of our future nurses to improve the health indicators in the country” said Dr Manineng.
DWU’s Nursing program at St Benedicts Kaindi (Wewak) was recently established as a sister program to the faculty’s (FMHS) St Mary’s Rabaul Nursing program.
The newly established program is a Diploma in General Nursing program and discussions are currently taking place with stakeholders to convert to Bachelor level or specialized midwifery training in the near future.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful support we continue to receive also from Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST), National Department of Health (NDoH) and the PNG Nursing Council.
“This support enables us to go a step further in producing high quality nurses to serve our population, for which we dearly appreciate,” said Dr Manineng.
Present for the signing was the Chairman of ESPHA, Austin The, CEO of ESPHA, Mathew Kaluvia, Bishop of Wewak Diocese, Fr. Jozef Roszynski, acting Administrator of DWU St Benedicts campus, Vincent Sobo, Head of the Nursing Program Dr Esther Batia and the Nursing and admin staff.