By Staff Writer
The Nurses Association is hopeful New Zealand will commit to the full funding of the nurses hall after already contributing to the early costs of the architectural design for the building,
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier committed NZD$2m to the costs of the project, but the full estimates will depend on the final design and is expected to be much more.
Association President, Papali’i Ms. Solialofi, acknowledged the help from New Zealand with quiet hopes that PM Fiame took up the appeal for added assistance with PM Ardern.
The New Zealand leader spent 2 days in Apia on an invitation for talks in celebration of the Treaty of Friendship 60th year the two countries were commemorating.
“We really have to start moving on building our hall,” President Papali’i said when asked by Newsline Samoa.
“The hall serves as the heart of developing our nursing profession to respond effectively to Samoa’s health demands.”
Papali’i worried at the increasing health risks Samoa is exposed to with the current spread of diseases highlighted by the COVID 19 pandemic.
New mutations of the virus into new variants and the onset of other new health risks like the monkey box are evolving risks health care services have to respond to.
“Nurses are frontline workers and they have to be fully prepared and well trained to respond effectively to public health care services and for their protection as well.”
The old two-storey wooden nurses building is still being used on the ground floor while the top half is too rundown from the leaking roof and is unsafe.
Both Fiame and Ardern put a heavy stress on the continuing threat of the COVID pandemic for both countries and the region.
PM Fiame did raise the point about Samoa calling on New Zealand assistance if and when needed.
PM Ardern did not make any specific reference to the Nurses Hall but is prepared for New Zealand to make full commitment to health related issues like the COVID 19 pandemic if needed.
New Zealand is a high-risk area for any disease including the pandemic to reach Samoa because of the quick rate of travel.
Former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, followed up on the funding for the Nurses Hall, as the kind of commitment that symbolizes the spirit of the Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand.
Tuilaepa was PM when PM Ardern agreed to give funding for the Nurses Hall, on her first visit to Samoa as newly elected NZ leader.
“Hopefully Fiame will follow up with a request for more assistance, the money already given is not enough to cover the costs for the building.”
New Zealand is committed to NZD$14m in assistance for the costs of a new flea market to be built at the old Savalalo locations where the previous building was destroyed by a house fire.
How and whether that would affect more assistance to the building of the Nurses Hall remains to be confirmed.