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Today, the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Faculty of Nursing, Medicine, and Health Sciences (FNMHS) received a generous donation of two laptops and one projector from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Solomon Islands Country Office.
The equipment was presented by the UNFPA Country Head, Mrs. Alicia Hilly-Kenilorea. In her remarks, she expressed her honour in representing UNFPA and presenting the donation of laptops to the Faculty of Nursing, Medicine, and Health Sciences to support the strengthening of midwifery education. She acknowledged the vital role midwives play in saving lives by ensuring safe and healthy pregnancies and deliveries. Mrs. Hilly-Kenilorea highlighted that, โthe UNFPA Pacific Sub-regional Office has been supporting SINU since 2018, initially under the DFAT-funded Transformative Agenda Phase One, and continuing under the current Phase Two.โ She noted that UNFPA has partnered with SINU and, with technical support from the Burnet Institute, conducted a gap analysis of the midwifery curriculum. Based on this analysis, the curriculum has been updated to align with international standards and is ready for implementation. She expressed confidence that, with the support of the Solomon Islands Government, โSINU would begin offering midwifery education using the updated curriculum starting early next year.โ
UNFPA Country Head Mrs. Hilly-Kenilorea also mentioned that they supported preceptor training in preparation for the rollout next year. To enhance the quality of teaching and learning, she noted that UNFPA had previously donated anatomical models and other resources. Todayโs handover of laptops is seen as a valuable resource for students and faculty, providing access to essential information, training materials, and communication tools. She expressed hope that this donation would contribute to the overall development of the school and improve SINU’s capacity to offer quality midwifery education, ultimately saving the lives of mothers and their babies in the Solomon Islands.
In his remarks, the Dean of faculty, Dr. Humpress Harrington, expressed gratitude, stating, “Without women, we wouldn’t be here. We are deeply thankful to UNFPA for their continued support. Midwives play a crucial role in ensuring safe pregnancies and deliveries, and this donation will greatly assist our staff and students in advancing midwifery education and improving maternal healthcare in the Solomon Islands.”
The brief handover ceremony was witnessed by staff from FNMHS and UNFPA representatives.
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