New nursing school opens, new programme launched

It was double celebrations for members of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI Sangam) yesterday.

They officially opened their third Sangam School of Nursing College at the Belo Street in  Samabula, Suva, and launched a new Bachelor of Nursing (Bridging) Programme.

The college was officially opened by the Fiji Higher Education Commission director Salote Rabuka.

“This occasion is indeed a milestone achievement for which credit must go to those whose vision and tireless efforts have brought Sangam education and training in Fiji to what it is today.

“The Sangam College of Nursing under the Sangam Institute of Technology (SIT) was registered with the Fiji High Education Commission in 2012,” she said.

Mrs Rabuka said the registration was accompanied by the provisional registration of the college’s then existing programmes.

The programmes included Diploma in Nursing, Post-graduate Diploma in Midwifery and a Bachelor of Nursing Science.

“The additional undergraduate degree programme is testimony to the consistent efforts of the SIT and TISI as a whole to grow the college as a professional institute of nursing.

“In doing so, this contributes in the meaningful way to raising the quality of Fiji’s health care services,” she said.

Mrs Rabuka said the programme was approved by the Fiji Higher Education Commission in April this year.

Sangam College of Nursing Academic Board chairman Amraiya Naidu said: “TISI Sangam is happy with the modest contribution the college has made to the health sector with trained personnel.

“The development of nursing bridging course began in 2014.

“Our staff were concurrently teaching the final year of the Diploma course and the first batch of the second year degree classes,” he said.

Mr Naidu said the college is extremely pleased with the overwhelming responses for admission to undertake the course.

“It shows the level of interest and desire among the members of nursing profession to learn,” he said.

TISI Sangam national president Damend Gounder was proud and happy with their achievements.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

Feedback:  shahani.mala@fijisun.com.fj