Nurses received independence gift

IT was a wonderful Independence gift to the PNG Nurses Association (PNGNA) when they received a bus and a cheque of K20,000.
The bus and cash were donated by the National Airports Corporation (NAC) at the PNGNA Head Office in Port Moresby recently.
PNGNA General Secretary Justeen Pindipi, said the event was significant as it coincided with the independence celebrations.
The bus is one of the APEC buses used during the 2018 APEC Summit in Port Moresby and was given to NAC. NAC then donated the bus to PNGNA.
Pindipi added that there are many associations that have come this far and are still surviving and one such is PNGNA.
Kebai said transport is one issue nurses are faced with when trying to do their work in providing health services.
“We play a lifesaving role within the community and the role we play is essential but, when it comes to the way we should be looked after it is lacking at this moment,” Kebai said.
“And this is a very big gap. We want nurses to live in a decent home of their own, have transport to go to work in a timely manner to provide quality services. But at this moment as we speak there is a very big gap.
“With NAC’s donation, my nurses will be delighted because they know they have a transport that is available to pick them at their door step and drop them off after work.”
Kebai further challenged PNGNA and the secretarial staff to look after the bus and use it for its intended purpose so it sustains them in many years to come.
“On behalf of the nurses throughout the country we are looking forward to partner with NAC,” he added.
Kiponge said he was very happy and honored in recognising the very important role that nurses play in the society and the country.
“On behalf of the board of NAC, senior management and the general staff and the 22 airports throughout PNG it gives me this great pleasure and the honor to recognise the important work you do,” Kiponge said.
“This is not a big occasion but is a significant moment for us in recognising the important work you play in this country. And we are happy to present you this 40-plus seater bus because we believe that without nurses, PNG healthy population would not exist.”
Kiponge added that this approach was in support of Prime Minister James Marape’s maiden speech to reduce the 1000 kilometer and to attend to a patient to ensure that there is a transport to take the nurses from work and to attend to patents.
“I think we have done the right thing by supporting PNGNA and we cannot reach out to all the provinces out there but I think this will impact the nurses out there in the provinces as well,” he said.
Kiponge further appealed to the media to inform the people about the negativity that is going against NAC.
“NAC is here to work with the community and providing essential services that this country needs and deserves,” he said.
“We are here to support the Marape-Rosso Government.”
NAC Chief Operating Officer Vilimoni Caucau, commended Kiponge saying this donation is an eye opener for them and other stakeholder in PNG to support the worthy course that the nurses do.
“They (nurses) have been crying and pledging and now is a good time that God has answered their call,” he said.
Kebai on behalf of the PNGNA national executives plus the secretarial staff and the 4,000 financial members in the country thanked NAC for giving PNGNA this independence gift.
PNGNA is a workers union organisation formed with the purpose of protecting interest of health workers employed in the nursing profession throughout Papua New Guinea. The association was established back in the late 1960’s and was formally registered on the 12th of December 1972 and recognised as an industrial organisation with a constitution that governs all its operations from then till today.
The association has members residing and working in almost all health facilities in both rural and urban areas in the country and is one of the largest Union movements in the country with an affiliation of around four thousand (4,000) members and is increasing.
“We are proud to state here that most of our effort in protecting the interest of our members have impacted how the national health department and the government functions today in terms of worker’s benefits.”
Apart from union activities conducted as normal business, PNGNA has within itself services to help and assist financial members when and where necessary.
“It is our aim to have all health workers that are employed in the nursing profession affiliate and be members of the organisation.