About AHS

What we do ?

Health Worker Training Schools
What is the need ?
Papua New Guinea has just 67 nurses per 100,000 population, which is lower than the average for all Least Developed Countries worldwide. There are only 7 doctors per 100,000 population, which is less than a quarter of the average for all Least Developed Countries worldwide. There are no comparative figures for Community Health Workers (CHWs). The results of this are:-

  • The majority of people have absolutely no access to a doctor
  • Nurses and CHWs carry out the doctors role of diagnosing and treating
  • There is a shortage of nurses and CHWs, particularly in rural areas
  • There is a high emphasis on treatment and a low emphasis on prevention.
  • The number of places in the training schools are insufficient to maintain the status quo, let alone improve the situation.
How do the Training Schools help ?
nursing St Margarets CHW Training School train nurses and community health workers respectively. Three of the nursing schools are run by the Government and the other five are run by the churches, but funded by the Government. All of the CHW schools are run by the churches.

AHS manages two educational institutions:-

St Barnabas School of Nursing, located in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, which is jointly managed by the Anglican, Catholic and United Churches.
St Margarets Community Health Worker Training School, located in Popondetta, Oro Province. The training of health workers with the required knowledge, skills and attitudes starts with our educational institutions. It is essential that students are trained with an appreciation of the importance of primary health care, a commitment to delivering a high standard of service to our communities, and the skills to perform competently in a rural situation.

Personal comments
At home there are many aid posts and health centres, but not many workers. I realised that I needed to help. I want to educate my people about prevention.
Melanie Wesina Year 2 Student from Sineyaea in Milne Bay Province

Its my dream to become a nurse to help the sick and suffering. My neighbours at home, seeing my attitude, encouraged me to train as a nurse.
Emma Kui Year 1 Student from Warup in Western Highlands Province

Students at St Margaret's graduate with very high standards. The school sets high standards both academic and practical.
Zara Manawapou Year 2 Student from Waraka in Milne Bay Province

Coming from a very remote area, the need of health care for my people is really high. When they're not attended to".
Christina Wom Year 1 Student from Sinesineyongomul in Chimbu Province

I realised that coming to St Margaret's was a privilege....having a small number of students is easier because I get to know my fellow students very much.
Windsor Dogie Year 2 Student from Gona in Oro Province.

Future Developments
St Barnabas' School of Nursing, in common with other General Nursing Schools is in the process of introducing a diploma level curriculum. This is a move, which we welcome, to prepare nurses more able to analyse the causes of ill health and more able to negotiate improvements in lifestyle. To achieve this the school must make other changes:-

  • Nurse Tutors are upgrading their qualifications to graduate level.
  • The school is affiliating with Divine Word University for academic accreditation.
  • Improvements are being made in classrooms and educational resources.
St Margaret's School of Nursing moved, several years ago, from its previous location at Oro Bay, and continues to be housed in temporary diocesan buildings. Whilst this enabled the school to continue to function, it is far from ideal. The school is strategically important, because it is the only institution training community health workers in Oro Province, and an important source of recruitment to AHS. There is also some pressure for the viable schools to increase their intakes to meet the future manpower needs of implementing the Government's National Health Plan.

There is much to be done In the short term the school needs:-

  • Improved accommodation
  • Improved equipment
  • Books, charts, anatomical models
  • Other educational resources
In the long term We are preparing a proposal to rebuild the school.


go back to | Project Information |
This web-site was last updated on the 20th of Nov. 2004