251 new nurses will be appointed across Fiji by January next year - Akbar

Minister for Health Rosy Akbar says 251 new nurses will be appointed across Fiji by January next year.

Speaking at the opening of the Nursing Supervisors and Management Symposium, Akbar highlighted that 230 new nurses were appointed in January this year.

Akbar says the public has a lot of expectation from the nurses and they should serve with empathy, compassion, diligence and dedication.

Akbar says if they are inundated with calls and complaints then something has gone wrong.

Akbar told the nursing supervisors and management to be empathic not only towards the patient but also towards those people who work under their leadership.

Akbar told the participants to be proud of what they are as it is a noble profession.

She says she knows the condition in which the nurses are working in and it cannot be changed over night but they will go into that slowly.

The Minister commended the work of the nurses during Tropical Cyclone Winston and encouraged them to continue providing the best support and care to everyone.

The nursing supervisors and management from CWM Hospital, St Giles Hospital, Twomey Hospital, Serua, Namosi, Tailevu and Naitasiri took part in the one day symposium.