Michele Rumsey, Director of Operations and Development of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development at University of Technology Sydney (WHO CC UTS) has been working closely with Acting Registrar Dr Nina Joseph, to work towards all qualified nurses and midwives in Papua New Guinea (PNG) becoming registered.
In 2014, this work involved relevant Committee meetings to ensure work is being carried out and nurses/midwives can be registered in a timely manner, nursing and midwifery educational institute accreditation audits, communication with institutes and nurses/midwives to keep them informed of Nursing Council changes, and a new website to be released in 2015 for public interface.
Front row: Michele Rumsey, WHO CC UTS acting as regulation advisor to PNG Nursing Council. Dr Nina Joseph Acting Registrar, PNG Nursing Council
Back row: PNG Nursing Council staff
The Department of Health has also been working closely with the training institutions to improve their capacity and quality. The PNG Secretary for Health has released a statement confirming a focus on ensuring institutes are accredited by the Nursing Council: “We need to maintain the standard of healthcare in PNG. For this reason, health worker training providers must be accredited through the PNG Nursing Council and Medical Board. This is a legal requirement for the graduates to practice in the PNG health sector and ensures that our health workforce continue to be highly competent in their roles and be responsive to the needs of our people.”
Accreditation audits carried out in 2014 including Nursing and Midwifery institutes: Enga, St Barnabas, St Mary’s and Lae Schools of Nursing.
Work will continue in 2015 to ensure historical nurse and midwifery graduates are formally registered.
PNG Nursing Council staff, National Department of Health