A budget of $776,476 has been allocated to provide in-service training for medical officers to ensure upskilling and competency training.
Minister for Health Dr Atonio Lalabalavu said this was part of the ministry’s plan to pursue capacity building for its workforce, with assistance from central agencies and development partners.
“For the 2023 academic year, the Australian Government Pacific Scholarship for midwifery sponsored 20 registered nurses and the Ministry of Health sponsored an additional 20 registered nurses through its in-service training budget,” he said.
“As such, a total of 40 registered nurses is expected to graduate as midwives at the end of the 2023 academic year, and they will be formally recruited in 2024.
“This is in addition to the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sponsoring 249 registered nurses in the years 2019 to 2022 for the Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery.”
These courses were offered by the Fiji National University in Suva and TISI Sangam College of Nursing & Health Care Education in Labasa.
Dr Lalabalavu said the ministry had also negotiated with the World Bank, who sponsored 10 registered nurses to pursue the Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health offered by the Fiji National University in 2022.
He said an additional 10 nurses were anticipated to be sponsored in 2023.
“Similarly, the Fred Hollows Foundation is sponsoring two nurses for the Postgraduate Diploma in Eye Care at the Pacific Eye Institute, in addition to the 44 registered nurses who have been sponsored by the foundation from 2006 to 2022.”
