Nurses executives declared

By LULU MARK
IT is important to have the right people elected to represent nurses who play a critical role in delivering healthcare services in Papua New Guinea, an official says. PNG Nurses Association (PNGNA) general-secretary Gibson Siune said nurses in the country were given the opportunity to elect their national, regional and provincial executives for three-year terms. The Electoral Commission returning officer appointed for the nurses’ elections, Bura Maro, declared the winners of the election at the PNGNA headquarters in Port Moresby yesterday. The occasion was witnessed by representatives from the Health Department, Department of Labour and Industrial Relations, Trade Union, and nurses from Port Moresby General Hospital, National Capital District and Central health authorities. The positions that were contested for at the national office and provincial branch were that of president, vice-president and treasurer, and for the regional representation, the positions were hospital and rural representative. Siune said the last election was held in 2017 and they were due for elections this year. But, it had been delayed because of the Covid-19 induced restrictions.
The elections were successfully concluded. “PNGNA continue to stand and uphold the constitution that is in place to ensure the integrity of the association is maintained to serve the best interest of our nurses,” he said. “It is important that the association has these leaders (72) who will represent the nurses.” Siune said leaders were needed to voice the economic and political interests of the members, ensure the association was functioning, work for the betterment of the association, work in collaboration with the unions across the country and also to uphold the nursing standards and practice in the country.