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Current News |
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December 09, 2011
Cabinet has recently approved the Ministry of Health’s proposal to create 17 new health assistant posts, exempting the Ministry from freezing on hire, to ensure that effective and sustainable health services are provided to the outer island communities by qualified and skilled local health assistants.
A total of 21 health assistant trainees graduated from an 18-month training program at the Ministry of Health in Majuro on July 29, 2011. Nine of the 21 health assistants are currently taking up math and science courses at the RMI-USP Joint Education Program to strengthen their capabilities in the two subject areas and to better equip them for the Fiji School of Medicine.
Today, there are 49 functional and active health centers in the outer islands where 49 health assistants have responsibilities that range from promoting health education in schools to managing chronic and infectious diseases. The RMI health force reduction in the late 1990s, forced the Ministry of Health to shut down seven health centers in Longar, Nibung, Melang, Enekoion, Mejatto, Katiej, and Jah, reducing the number of health centers to 53. Another four health centers at Jabnodren, Jang, Odmeej, and Enejelaar had to close due to inactivity, or the lack of human resources to provide health care services.
The new health assistants will play a vital role in the various outer island communities by providing primary, secondary, and tertiary health care, hence reducing the gap in health services to the outer islands.
The photo includes 20 of the 21 graduates, Courtesy of the Outer Islands Health Care office at the Ministry of Health.
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