Saint Barnabas School of Nursing's (SBSON) graduated 49 nurses at its 14th graduation ceremony on Wednesday 14 December 2022, at the Masurina Lodge in Alotau, Milne Bay Province.
Located on the Alotau General Hospital grounds, the nursing school is Milne Bay's only tertiary institution run by the three main churches; Anglican, Catholic and United Church. The school is supported by the Milne Bay Provincial Government and National Government.
The school attracts nursing students from all over the country apart from Milne Bay who complete a three-year Diploma in Nursing program.
Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority Chief Executive Officer, Dr Perista Mamadi, delivered the graduation’s keynote address.
Dr. Mamadi challenged the SBSON School Board, Administration and Management to develop a corporate plan to chart the way forward for the school because of the high standard output when they go into the field.
"There are support out there that want to support the school however they need to know where the school is going and where their investment goes,” he said.
Dr. Mamadi added that for the last 14 years, SBSON has graduated nurses through the diploma program that he is proud of, and looks forward to the day the school achieves university status and graduates nurses through a bachelors program.
SBSON Dux, Litha Taudemo reminded her fellow graduates why they chose to be a nurse because it is an honourable profession and career.
Miss Taudemo said she experienced a mixture of emotions during her practical experience where she saw birth frozen not knowing what to do.
She added it has been a long journey through their training to reach the top.
"It's right to salute the SBSON administration, board, staff, stakeholders, parents and guardians despite the various distracted situations they persisted enabled us to graduate as nurses today,” she said.
SBSON Principal, George Taudemo said in his opening address advised the graduates he mentored for three years that he was proud to see the graduation eventuate.
Taudemo added despite the distractive situations like COVID-19 students persisted in their training.