Solomon Islands: New Nurses expected to join the workforce.
In the national Parliament last week, the Member of Parliament for Raonga-Simbo, the Hon. Charles Sigoto, mentioned some concern about the departure of experienced nurses who had let the country to work on contract in Vanuatu.
The Minister of Health and Medical Services, the Hon Dickson Mua, in responding to the concern, said a number of mechanisms were in place to address the nursing gap.
Quoting the SIBC news report on the parliamentary exchange, it was stated the Minister for Health and Medical Services had added:
“The ministry through the nursing council has now embarked on a registration process of nurse graduates, preparing them for recruitment by employing organisations.
“Seventy-five new registered nurses will be fully registered in October this year and also soon to be recruited by the Ministry of Public Service.
“Fifteen newly graduates of the Pacific Adventist University Atoifi Campus have already started their internship program in June 2019.
“The program is financed by the Nursing Council of Solomon Islands”. He adds, the Ministry is also planning a clinical leaders workshop as part of addressing the nursing issue.
“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services through the National Nursing Administration has also started planning of a clinical leaders workshop for the NRH, Honiara City Council and Guadalcanal Province clinical leaders.
“This is to prepare nurse leaders who will fill in the positions for senior nurses going on the deployment exercise.
“The Solomon Islands Government through the Ministries of Public Service, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry of Finance have entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Solomon Islands Nurses Association to implement the nurses scheme of service.”
Source – SIBC.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
