Southern Highlands man graduates as nurse

Frank Kolen was among 36 students who graduated from the Tuna Bay School of Nursing in the National Capital District (NCD)on Friday.
The graduates are now equipped with nursing licences to join the health sector workforce.
Male nurse Frank Kolen told The National: “As a community health worker, I saw the importance of nursing in the field.
“When given the opportunity to attend this new school, I was more than grateful and despite challenges of meeting the school fees, I managed to pull through by the grace of God,” Kolen said.
Kolen, from Southern Highlands, could not have his family present as they were in the village.
But he expressed gratitude that the private institution had given him the opportunity to achieve his dreams of getting his diploma and becoming a nurse.
Representing the chief executive officer of the NCD health authority, curative services director Michael Dokup, said: “There is a consensus that primary healthcare is key to achieving universal health coverage and that essence of primary healthcare are the nurses.”
School principal Agnes Agebigo said: “I and my husband (Dr Nick Agebigo), the director, founded this private nursing school, because of the need for human resources in the health sector. Students from all walks of life in all parts of Papua New Guinea come to take up nursing.
“We help students who are unable to meet tuition fees get through and hope to give them a future.
“This is our second graduation, we have a quota of 40 students and we aim to graduate quality as we teach our students not only competitive nursing but research skills, so they collect data as they work in the frontlines of the health sector.”
The principal and director are proud that despite many challenges.
The graduating nurses have jobs waiting for them and will fit into the workforce with their licences to practice, the school said.
Agebigo said: “Opening this school in 2019, the Coronavirus pandemic had not only tested our resilience but also highlighted the crucial role of nurses in our society.
“We are sure this is an impactful and honourable profession as our graduates go out to serve.”
An Education Department representative was unable to attend the graduation.