By Vasinatta Yama, EM TV – Port Moresby
Health services in West New Britain Province are expected to reach new heights, with the ground breaking ceremony of a new Nursing College.
This will see an increase in the number of trained health workers, to provide quality services to the people.
Health Minister, Michael Malabag and West New Britain Governor, Sasindran Muthuvel, were at the ground breaking event, yesterday.
The nursing college, once built, will be the first tertiary institution in the province.
This will be a key factor in providing health services to people in West New Britain and the country.
Papua New Guinea’s health sector is currently facing staffing shortages, run-down hospitals and clinics, over-crowding wards, and a shortage in staff housing. This has led to the poor performances of health practitione’s in PNG.
However, Health Minister, Michael Malabag says the government has not turn a blind eye to the problem.
He said under the Health Workforce Enhancement Plan, the government is rehabilitating training schools for nurses and community health workers across the country as a long term measure.
Short term measures are also put in place to minimise the problem. it includes the recruitment of overseas health workers.
The Australian Government is committed to co-finance the development of training schools, such as the new nursing college in West New Britain.
The minister also committed another K1 million funding. He also committed K5 million for staff housing, and for the construction of a new maternity ward.
The challenge now is for the Kimbe Provincial Hospital and the Provincial Health Authority to start the ground work quickly.
It was a joyous moment for the people of West New Britain Province, as they witnessed the ground breaking ceremony of a key institution that will support health services in the country.
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