Vanuatu's Ministry of Health is to recruit its first batch of Solomon Islands nurses next month, if their contracts are approved by the Public Service Commission.
Nurse Practitioner Marie Paul Luwuslili, Tsingbwege Dispensary, Vanuatu. Photo: UNICEF PACIFIC
The Director General of Health, George Taleo, told 96 Buzz FM Vanuatu will be getting about 20 Solomon nurses initially.
They are being hired to plug a gap resulting from retirements while the Vanuatu College of Nursing Education is only graduating about 30 nurses each year, he said.
Rhere are plans to expand the nursing school and recruiting foreign nurses should be phased out by 2025, Mr Taleo said.
The ministry has requested $US1.5 million dollars from the government to hire more than 70 Solomon nurses in total.