PRESS RELEASE: 26th February 2015
Eight staff from the National Health Service and Ministry of Health have been selected for sponsorship to continue their studies through online distance-learning.
Sponsorship is provided by the Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN), an ongoing program of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health (MOH) that started in Samoa in 2003.
The students will earn degrees from Fiji National University (FNU) and the Pacific Paramedical Training Centre (PPTC) in New Zealand through online courses, without leaving Samoa.
The students will also continue to work in their positions at NHS and MOH, studying part-time. The program’s flexibility, allowing students to remain in Samoa and continue their jobs while studying, appeals to many health professionals.
Dr. Tamara Nowell, who has already earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Services Management through the POLHN/FNU program, said, “It is very convenient because you can work and log in to the course any time.”
Students are also motivated to learn more about health for their personal and professional development. Ms. Jean Poe Kwan stated, “I want to learn more about health management to improve my career,” and Ms. Tupou Chan Tung said she feels that the PPTC course will help her to bridge her clinical work in the laboratory and her theoretical science background.
Maeva Ah Yen (L) and Tupou Chan Tung (R) will be studying with PPTC.
The POLHN Sponsored Program with FNU will continue next semester and applications will open in May 2015. Contact the Ministry of Health for more information.
Students awarded POLHN Sponsorship in February 2015:
Fiji National University:
- Ms. Jean Poe Kwan, Records Supervisor, MOH
Program: Postgraduate Certificate in Health Services Management
- Ms. Poutasi Melanie Seuseu, Senior Physiotherapist, NHS
Program: Postgraduate Certificate in Health Services Management
- Dr. Tamara Ah Leong Nowell, Senior Registrar, NHS
Program: Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management.
Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science from Pacific Paramedical Training Centre:
- Ms. Maeva Grace Ah Yen, Medical Laboratory Technician, NHS
- Ms. Makerita Talalelei Nafanua Ieremia, Medical Laboratory Technician, NHS
- Ms. Perenise Eti, Medical Laboratory Technician, NHS
- Ms. Tupou Tuimana Agnes Chan Tung, Medical Laboratory Technician, NHS
- Ms. Vanessa Daru Samuelu, Medical Laboratory Technician, NHS
POLHN students, Makerita Ieremia and Vanessa Samuelu (left to right), at the Health Professional Credentialing Centre, Motootua.
