Nurses

This was demonstrated by the experiences of current nursing scholars Yolanda Som, Steven Johnson and Joshua Kamrai.

Yolanda Som and Steven Johnson, from Morobe Province, are currently in their second year of a Diploma in General Nursing course at the Lae School of Nursing. They are part of a cohort of 10 Newcrest-funded awardees currently studying for a nursing qualification through Australia Awards scholarships. 

This was clearly shown during the data collection and registration onto the new online Health Practitioners Registration System.

But while this numbers are increasing, quality is still a need, as stressed by Michele Rumsey, the Regulation Advisor to the project.

The project required accrediting all nursing schools. This found an increase in nursing schools from 7 – 11 and midwifery schools from 4 to 5.

The symposium is hosted annually by the National Professional Health Committee in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Nurses Association (PNGNA).

The event will be held in Lae, Morobe Province from October 10-14 and has already received support from the host provincial government, the National Department of Health and other corporate sponsors.

The Government through the National Gaming and Control Board has also chipped in with K100,000.

The symposium will be held in Lae, Morobe Province from October 10-14 with over 500 nurses expected to attend.

Thomas Telepo from the National Professional Health Committee said all nurses from the urban and rural areas must attend this important event.

Telepo said most nurses, after completing their basic training, tend to work for a longer period of time without applying for more training for upskilling.

He said there is a gap in knowledge and skills as nurses do not update themselves to the current global trends in the medical field.

Preparations are well underway and nurses from both urban and rural hospitals and health facilities will travel into Lae for the week-long event.

The symposium is partly hosted by the PNG Nurses Association (PNGNA) with the theme “Nurses: A force for change, improving and strengthening health system’s resilience through public, private partnership.”

PNGNA acting vice president Fredrick Kebai explained that the theme is in line with the Government’s free health care policy where the nurses are agents of change and implementers of policies.

Former PEA national president  and now and advisor to the Milne Bay Province Government, Mr Napoleon Liosi stood in for Governor Titus Philemon. He challenged the graduates to give back to the community because they were blessed.