Nurses’ body amends laws to keep up with the times

THE Papua New Guinea Nurses Association has amended its 37-year-old constitution to make it more relevant with the times.
President Sr Eimi Kaptigau said the constitution was amended because “it was outdated and out of context in today’s environment and practice”.
The constitution review last year was registered with the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations on Oct 19.
Sr Kaptigau said yesterday the amended constitution provided the separation of functions at the national and branch levels of the association.
“The branch presidents will now be called chairpersons while there will be only one president which is the national president,” Sr Kaptigau said.
She said all executives elected both at national and branch levels would have their roles and responsibilities specified.
The national management committee (NMC) will consist of eight regional representatives, preferably one male and one female.
“The committee will also address gender equality issues,” she said.
General secretary Jack Suao said nurses should be proud of their amended constitution which was done by professionals.
“The amended constitution will generally improve PNGNA and its progress in the future.
“Due to new technology affecting the nursing profession, we must cope with the changes,” he said, adding the main objective would be to protect the financial interest of members.
The first part of the implementation of the constitution is the election of office bearers.
Mr Suao said the elections were in progress and urged members to participate fully in the nomination of office bearers, branch executives while the regional representatives would be nominated at the first national management meeting.
Mr Suao said the 2,600 members would be using the postal voting system with counting to be conducted in Port Moresby.