By LORETTA B MANELE
Female health practitioners from the National Referral Hospital (NRH) for the first time attended a meeting with representatives from the National Council of Women (NCW) and Vois Blong Mere Solomon (VBMS) yesterday.
The meeting, held at NRH’s conference room was to discuss collaborative efforts to advance women’s health through advocacy and campaigns.
Kristina Sogavare, Vice President of NCW whilst speaking to the paper, said they came to establish a network with female health workers at NRH.
She said NCW is an umbrella body that represents women organizations across the nation thus having this space with women working at the hospital is very important.
“The medical field is very important to push for women’s agenda in terms of women’s health and maternal health.
This association is very important because there has been a lot of cries from women working in the health sector over the years.
So NCW, as an umbrella body wants to take everyone on board so that we can work together.”
In her message to female health practitioners, she said as women, there are many times where we work a lot and we don’t feel that we are heard and we see our job as just a 9-to-5 job.
Sogavare stressed that amidst this, we have to be strategic and work within existing legislative structures.
“We have a lot of needs and so it is important to not give up. We must work and strive hard. We must work together and collaborate with other organizations.
“Never give up. Work hard. I know our nurses are very hardworking women.”
Nerol Vaekesa, Director for Vois Blong Mere Solomon referred to the meeting as “exciting”.
She said the day was exciting because they’ve started a partnership.
Vaekesa highlighted that both NCW and VBMS are happy to partner with NRH and now they have a space where our health practitioners especially women can raise their voices on issues that affect them not only in their workplaces but as well as in their communities.
“So, we look forward for an exciting collaboration.
It is important to collaborate with NRH because health intercepts with many things in our lives and many of us women can become sick or affected if any one in our homes get sick.
And when we get sick and come to the hospital, it is the health practitioners that will take care of us.”
Vaekesa pointed out that it is also important that the environment of health practitioners is safe and conducive so they can enjoy their work at the same time serve patients who come to the hospital.
Dr Janella Solomon, Medical Superintendent of NRH voiced that the meeting was a first of its kind for them.
“This is the first time for our female clinical and non-clinical health workers to hear about the work and role of NCW and how we can contribute positively to their work and how we can benefit from it.
It is also the first time for some us to hear about VBM. So, we are looking at how we can utilize this space to help support women through VBM.”
Solomon calls on all women working in the health sector including those in the provinces and those who contribute in any way to work in the health sector to join NCW and utilize VBMS so they can collectively address the needs and gaps in their workplaces.
Female health workers at the meeting included clinical and non-clinical workers from different departments of NRH.
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