By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU
THE Papua New Guinea Nurses Association (PNGNA) has announced the appointment of Mr. Kwalimu Mulina as the new General Secretary (GS) for the association.
He replaces Mr. Justeen Pindipi who has been acting on the position for more than six (6) months when the General Secretary, Mr. Gibson Siune went for elections and did not return due to some unknown reasons.
PNGNA National President, Mr Fredrick Koddard Kebai made the announcement in a small but significant gathering in Port Moresby last week in the presence of media, including PNGNA Legal Counsel, Herbert Best Wally and the outgoing Acting GS, Mr Justeen Pindipi.
Mr. Mulina was appointed during a special PNGNA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Shady Rest Hotel in Port Moresby on March 17,2023.
PNGNA President, Mr. Kebai said Mulina has a vast wealth of experience working as a Senior Industrial Officer with the National Department of Health (NDoH) for the last 21 years until his retirement.
“Our new GS has a wealth of experience in industrial matters where he was a former Senior Industrial Officer with NDoH and he has wealth of experience and knowledge and I truly believe he will bring PNGNA to the next level,” Kebai said.
He welcomed Mr. Mulina as the new GS for PNGNA and thanked the outgoing General Secretary for his tremendous job for the PNGNA throughout PNG over the last 6 to 7 months.
Mr Pindipi in his outgoing remarks said he is pleased and happy with PNGNA for appointing him as the acting GS for the last 6 to 7 months.
“I had the opportunity to get the chair and it gave me the inner feelings to be part of PNGNA and that was really great,” he said.
Pindipi welcomed Mr. Mulina to the GS position and assured him that he (Mulina) will receive similar support that he received from the National President and his National Executives.
Mr Mulina said he is happy for joining PNGNA as it is not a new job to him.
He said while working with NDoH, he has been the advocator and has supported PNGNA on industrial matters through NGoH and other stakeholders like the Department of Personnel Management, Treasury and Finance in terms of their terms and conditions under industrial agreements.
“So, during that time I have learned and realized how important the nurses’ job is and also what the union was providing to support the nurses throughout the country.
“And, I think this is another challenge as I will be representing them like an industrial person and no longer as a representative of NDoH.
“I will be definitely working with the association and the Government basically to bring forth the resolutions and addressing their needs and grievances and this is through the office of the National President who is the head of PNGNA,” Mr. Mulina said.
He said the advice that he will be providing is basically according to the law and industrial employment Act because those are the governance policies that will guide to run the association.
