The strengthened partnership between the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has created a new platform.

This would enhance learning and capacity-building for the health professionals particularly for doctors, nurses and technical staff.

The Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN) provides e-learning and training opportunities for the health staff at Levuka Sub-Divisional Hospital.

The POLHN centre at the Levuka sub-divisional hospital was opened earlier this year and has received positive response in broadening knowledge and skills.

POLHN aims to bridge the digital divide and enable health professionals to improve the quality of care across the Pacific.

The success of the programme was highlighted during the official visit to the Levuka Sub-Divisional Hospital by the Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar and (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo in Ovalau Island, yesterday.

Acting SDMO (Sub-Divisional Medical Officer) Lomaiviti, Ripeka Kaurasi described POLHN as a gateway to boost the professional development of health staff.

“More staff are able to enrol for those online courses for professional development and it offers lot of training and skills development relative to public health and hospitals,” Ms Kaurasi said.

“Because it’s online, learning is flexible to accommodate the learning needs of the trainees, for those who cannot attend face to face classes so this network enables them to access the training after their shifts and they can access research materials online.”

Levuka Sub-Divisional Hospital is 32-bed facility it delivers basic clinical services, out-patients, in-patients and Special Outpatient Department, diagnostics – basic laboratory, x-ray and ultrasound scanning, pharmaceutical services, nutrition and dietetics, physiotherapy and oral health (dental).

There are a total of 46 staff including three doctors, one nurse practitioner (NP), 15 nurses (three midwives) and total coverage is population of 12,700 that includes Lomaiviti Group.

Ovalau Island has one hospital (LevukaSubdivisional Hospital), one health centre (Bureta Health Centre), one Maternal Child Health clinic (based in Levuka town) and the six nearby islands has one health centre (Gau), six nursing stations this includes Gau, Moturiki, Batiki,  Nairai and Wakaya.

WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo said he is impressed with the level of commitment and dedication of the health staff in Levuka to deliver the services.

The Levuka Health Centre that is also located in the Levuka Town has one sister and two zones nurses.

Source: Ministry of Health and Medical Services

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