Chronic nursing shortage in Pacific of rising concern
Quoting Radio New Zealand – 21 February 2020
“The growing nursing shortage in the Pacific is sparking conversation over the industry's future in the region.
“Heads of nursing and midwifery from 13 countries and territories across the Pacific met for the first time in Fiji last week to discuss health emergencies and education.
“Other topics included the mobility of workforces between countries especially during health emergencies, primary health care and regulation.
“In some Pacific states, nurses and midwives make up 75 percent of the health workforce.
“Addressing the meeting, chair Lys Nguyen from French Polynesia said nurses and midwives played an important role in primary healthcare and universal health coverage.
"Nurses are the heartbeat of the communities and workforce," she said. "We work for the people and we are finally coming together as a unified voice to face up to the challenges."
“But while threats like the measles, dengue fever and the coronavirus were on the agenda, the region's chronic shortage of nurses was also identified as a major risk.
“Countries were urged to work closely with each other and their international partners to address the shortage.”
Copyright @ 2020, Radio New Zealand.
