158 newly registered nurses commissioned.
A total of 158 newly registered nurses were commissioned in a ceremony at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Honiara today.
These nurses were awarded full registration by the Nursing Council of Solomon Islands and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services earlier this month, after completing their Nurses Supervised Practice Program (SPP).
Newly registered nurses at the commissioning ceremony.
Delivering his remarks at the ceremony, Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr. Culwick Togamana congratulated the nurses for their achievement, describing it as another achievement for the nursing council and the Health Ministry.
“The government recognizes the work of nurses as significant to the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and the nation as a whole, given that our nurses form 70% of the workforce and is the backbone of the country.”
“Without you, our system cannot stand. Thank you for choosing to do what you have been called to do, for serving selfishly, for all the work that you put in- the work we see, but especially what we do not see,” said Dr. Togamana.
Minister Togamana also acknowledged the partners and the senior executive management team within the Ministry, for effectively leading the delivery of the SPP which has ensured that the nurses were registered under the provisions of the Nursing Council Act.
Meanwhile, Chair of the Nursing Council, Micheal Larui says, he is happy to see that a good number of registered nurses are now recognized to perform their duties in health facilities around the country.
“Our health services are being challenged by a very fast-growing population and the increase of health centers, so there is a need to recruit more registered nurses so they can be deployed to hospitals and rural health centers.”
“This is also in line with the Ministry’s’ Role Delineation Policy which gives us the maximum number of staff per health center, so we are trying to achieve this.”
One of the newly registered nurses who has been a nurse aid for 16 years, Mr. Sam Ben, also shares his excitement with SIBC News on his achievement.
Mr. Sam Brian (right) with a colleague at todays commissioning ceremony.
“Being in the service for a long time as a nurse aid, I am happy and blessed to get to reach this far in my career and to finally be a registered nurse. It has been a challenge and today I have fulfilled that challenge.”
I am now looking forward to taking the new things that I have learnt and help people in whatever community I may be posted to, and to serve my country.”
ENDS//