Doctor Awarded Placement At Harvard
‘This is a milestone for us and also we are opening opportunities for other doctors’
Friday 19 March 2021 | 13:55
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete tour the new Nasese Private Hospital with the Hospital’s medical director Dr Virgilio De Asa. Photo: Ronald Kumar
A placement slot is open for a Fijian medical professional to study online at america’s ivy league school, Harvard University.
This was confirmed by the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete on Wednesday.
Dr Waqainabete said following consultations with education providers on availability of a placement, Fiji has been able to secure one.
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“We have just got confirmation that one of our senior doctors will be offered a post graduate certificate placement in an online programme that is offered in the Post Graduate School at Harvard University,” Dr Waqainabete said.
“This is a milestone for us and also we are opening opportunities for other doctors.
“The fact that we are going to have a Postgraduate graduate from a reputable university shows that there is a desire on our part to continue to support our staff for their development because ultimately at the end of the day they will then contribute to national development.”
He said it was the first time a Fijian from the Ministry of Health has been awarded a placement in Harvard.
“It’s a wonderful occasion and it shows that there is a recognition that we will continue to improve its surgical system and also the recognition from reputable organisation,” Dr Waqainabete said.
Vaccine update
Dr Waqainabete also confirmed that more than 550 frontliners have been vaccinated.
“At the moment we are nearly completed with our frontliners and we must continue to understand the importance of being vaccinated,” he said.
“I would advise the public that there is a lot of evidence that proves that the benefits of the vaccination that we are getting outweighs the risk.
“It reduces mortality, the likelihood of death and vaccinations have begun to actually ease the COVID-19 transmissions in countries that have community transmission.
“So I would urge everyone not to be easily swayed by news that are not true and stick to information that we continue to give out together with the World Health Organisation.”
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