Waqainabete: No More Baby Deliveries At Nursing Stations
Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says the Ministry of Health does not approve the delivery of babies at nursing stations.
In Parliament yesterday the Health Minister was responding to a question by Opposition Member of Parliament Ratu Suliano Matanitobua on the progress made in the upgrading of nursing stations in our rural and maritime communities.
He said previously any woman could just turn up at any nursing station to deliver her baby.
“That isn’t the practice anymore,” Dr Waqainabete said.
“We want to ensure that the health centres or subdivisional hospitals allocated for delivery have the appropriate doctors who are trained, midwives who are trained and all the facilities to be able to ensure safe delivery by women and we safely receive our children,” he said.
Dr Waqainabete also highlighted that the ministry identified nursing stations that would be better served by nurse practitioners.
Because it serves a large population and it’s geographical location, Bouma Nursing station in Taveuni was one nursing station that had been identified by the ministry.
Dr Waqainabete also stated that out of the 38 nursing stations under their upgrading projects, 21 stations had been upgraded and 17 were now in the process.
He expects them to be completed before the end of this year.
The ministry has a total of 99 nursing stations.
Edited by Percy Kean
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