Nurses, midwives undergo leadership training

By Hyunsook Siutaia 15 July 2020, 1:00PM

Samoan nurses and midwives will undergo a four-day training on “transformational leadership” in order to equip them with the tools to create a future based on the universal values of peace, equality, justice and respect for all.

According to a statement released by the United Nations Development Programme (U.N.D.P.), the nurses and midwives will come from both the public and private sectors in Upolu and Savai’i with their training facilitated by the Society of Private Nurses and Midwives [S.P.N.M.] in partnership with the Women in Leadership Samoa (W.I.L.S.) Project.

The training is part of the S.P.N.M. planned Professional Development activities throughout this year to acknowledge and celebrate this year 2020 as the International Year of the Nurses and Midwives of Samoa.

The U.N.D.P. statement said the training will also enable them to see the patterns and systems in the society, which perpetuate problems and learn how to create solutions to resolve social issues that they want to focus on in the health sector.

As “transformed” participants, the training will enable the participants to learn how to deliver results, scale up and lead change. The training will be rolled out in July and August 2020 with the first one scheduled for July 14-17 at the Tanoa Hotel, Sogi.

The expected long term outcome is for the nurses to reignite their leadership capacities in clinical, professional and corporate spaces. According to the U.N.D.P., nurses and midwives are any country’s hopes for the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (U.H.C.) through their work in primary health care and community development in health or health promotion.

The U.N.D.P. further reiterated that the leadership of nurses and midwives in health systems is vital, and the training purports to enhance transformational personal and social changes for improved health services. 

The investment made by the U.N.D.P., U.N.W.I.L.S., AusAID and U.N. Women on Samoan nurses, at a time when the world is acknowledging nurses and midwifery services, is highly commendable.

There is also a publication of stories by members of the S.P.N.M. and their children, plus a few other stories from some of the past and present nurses and midwives. This publication was made possible through the sponsoring partners mentioned afore, who recognised the engendering aspect of the writings. 

This partnership also contributes to the achievement of the W.I.L.S. Project overall project outcome, which is to strengthen women’s leadership and gender equality in Samoa. Women in Leadership in Samoa [W.I.L.S.] Project is a three-year joint project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme [U.N.D.P.], UN Women with funding from the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Samoa.

According to Jorn Sorensen, the U.N.D.P. Resident Representative to Samoa, the implementation of the four trainings starting this week is to mark the “International Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020” on Samoa to recognise and celebrate the very important tireless efforts and contributions of  Samoan nurses and midwives, past and present through the nursing and midwifery duties for an improved health system in Samoa.

The training guarantees participants the opportunity to share thoughts and experiences in order to learn from each other and to strengthen their leadership capacity in their line of work in the health Sector. 

In an interview with Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe, who was conducting the training, she said the training is a U.N. agenda looking at different ways to enhance gender equality and is also in line with the S.D.G. [Sustainable Development Goals].

"It's only the first day so we are setting the scene and explaining the founding principle about it which is the U.N.D.P. Gender for Gender Equality," she said.

"Seeking transformational change for people who are involved as well as social changes that will target issues involving women such as domestic violence."

By Hyunsook Siutaia 15 July 2020, 1:00PM
Samoa Observer

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