NURSING SERVICES in PNG : NURSES CELEBRATE

 

Madang celebrates Nurses Day

Nurses Day celebrations in Madang.

By Jason Paisoi

paisoijason8@gmail.com

"The event can be generally observed as an aftermath, as it was the first provincial event held in town after it went into busy elections mode for 12 consecutive weeks until the  returning of writs to the national parliament."

MORE than 200 nurses and various stakeholders in the health sector of the province celebrated the Nurses Day and 50 years of Silver Jubilee at Bates Oval in Madang town last Friday.

The ongoing delays for counting of the Regional seat have left puzzling questions for the people of Madang on the credibility of election processes.

However, hosting of the event by Papua New Guinea Nursing Association (PNGNA) and Modilon General Hospital have brought a sense of relief and a new beginning for the stakeholders and the general public.

The general public was urged to respect the work of nurses and also do away with political infighting in the province and working together in that sector to save lives.

Nursing service manager, Josephine Maihua congratulated the nurses for their efforts in providing services to the people in their community.

"Congratulations to PNGNA and staff for reaching 50 years in looking after the welfare of members since inception. I wish happy Nurses Day to all the nurses across the six districts in Madang and across the country,” Mrs Maihua said.

“I am reminded of the different hats that nurses wear and different roles they play in their line of duty.

“As a nurse leaves her home every day, she is perceived as going to give medicine to the patients. However, it is more than giving the medicine."

She said a nurse is a friend, a mother, a sister, a brother, among others, to a hurting and a dying patient on the bed. A gentle touch or holding a patient's hand who is in pain or scared on a dying bed is a great comfort.

Mrs Maihua thanked the nurses at the event and others carrying out clinical services in remote parts of Madang and other parts of the country for their tireless efforts and compassionate hearts.

She also commended the Papua New Guinea Nursing Association (PNGNA) and Provincial Health Authority Insurance in ensuring nurses welfare is taken care of in their profession.

Modilon nurses celebrate ANZAC Day at the famous Kalibobo lighthouse with visiting Australian Sailors, 2017. Picture courtesy of Modilon Hospital Page.

However, she stated there are still challenges as nurses do not have a voice in the national policy level as the positions of chief nursing officer and directorate of nursing were being scraped off from the National Department of Health structure and PHA Act respectively a few years back.

She said that has deprived nurses their rights to be given a fair playing field in the leadership arena to be equal partners in decision making and the development of healthcare in the country.

The newly-elected female members of the parliament was a historical bonus at the celebration and nurses across the six districts in Madang and the country given that it is an opportunity for their voices to be heard at the parliamentary level.

"I also congratulate the two female candidates, Rufina Peter, Governor-elect for Central Province and Kessy Sawang, Member-elect for Raicoast in Madang Province,” Mrs Maihua said.

“We are proud that we have a voice for women in the house so that our issues can be heard. I appeal to all women to support our female politicians in their term in office."

The nurses were also challenged to reflect on their behaviour and punctuality at work and make drastic changes and improve as she asserts that nurses’ attitudes on their attendance have dropped big time.

She challenged them by asking: "Is this the investment the government is expecting from us?"

With the theme, "Nurses- A Voice to Lead. Invest in Nursing and Respect the Rights to Secure Global Health,'' it is an onus that requires mutual working relationship to achieve it.

The day was celebrated with role play, poems, choir and traditional dances.
The main sponsors behind the success of the event were RD Tuna Canners and Telikom PNG. 

Stakeholders in the health sector who were invited to commemorate the day included Madang Haus Bung, Madang Lutheran School of Nursing, Divine Word University, World Vision, Chamber of Commerce, Madang Rotary Club, Madang Self Help Care Centre and the Madang SDA church.

A pretty little Simbai girl who lost her mum in a fire but survived. Seen here with her caregiver at the Modilon hospital in Madang. Picture courtesy of MacBee's post from last year.