The need to have more specialized nurses was also discussed at the inaugural Pacific Heads of Nursing meeting earlier this year. This meeting was timely given that 2020 is the year of the nurses and midwives and allowed Pacific heads of nursing to connect with each other, share challenges, solutions and provide support for capacity building.

The Heads of Nursing from Pacific Island Countries and Territories will convene in Nadi, Fiji from the 11th- 13th of February 2020 for the inaugural Pacific Heads of Nurses (PHoN) Meeting. This is the first time such a meeting has taken place, reflecting the increasing recognition of the essential role nurses play in Pacific health services. 

Ear, Nose, Throat & Audiology experts from 6 Pacific Island Countries (PICS) and partners from Australia and New Zealand successfully reviewed their Ear, Nose Throat (ENT) and Audiology regional progress and mapped out a plan for the future development of ENT & Audiology services in the region, in Nadi yesterday.

The 3rd Pacific Ear, Nose, Throat & Audiology Group (PENTAG) meeting created a platform that allowed dialogue between 12 ENT surgeons, nurses and other ENT specialists from these 6 PICs.