Minister notes decline in nurses

NURSE numbers in Papua New Guinea have been in decline and there is an urgent need to address the shortage and build capacity in the health sector, a Government minister says. Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHREST) Minister Wesley Raminai said this at the Kundiawa College of Nursing’s inaugural graduation last week where 28 pioneer students graduated. “We should know that health and education are foundation indicators to the nation’s development,” he said. “Successive governments have prioritised these two key sectors and my government continues to see that importance and will continue to support it in the upcoming national budget appropriations.”
Raminai said he would support any institution that complied with DHERST values. He said the college had faced challenges as a new institution but had overcome them and produced its first batch of graduates which would add to the province’s and region’s needs in healthcare. “There have been challenges in acquiring relevant skills and knowledge, staffing issues, the Covid-19, school fees and many others we have faced,” he said. “My department will be supporting this nursing college in whatever ways we can. “We will make sure we give priority to your needs because knowing from the support of everyone gathered here, this nursing college will grow for the better.” Raminai invited the school to submit its project proposal to DHERST for securing a funding from the 2022 budgetary allocations.