More than 1,500 individuals from Brunei Darussalam and the region participated in the first International Nurses and Midwives Virtual Conference to extend knowledge on ways to improve nursing practices yesterday.
Themed ‘Creativity and Innovation in Nursing’, the conference was organised by Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s Department of Nursing Services in conjunction with International Nurses and Midwives’ Day.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar as the guest of honour said, “The pandemic has undone in a matter of months what healthcare professionals took decades to build. Without dedicated teams of healthcare professionals, we would not have seen light at the end of this tunnel.
“At the core of those teams are outstanding nurses and midwives. Let’s not forget, the pandemic may be a worldwide concern but, we also have other patients suffering other conditions and ailments.”
During the conference, nurses and midwives shared experiences and ideas in broadening their perspective and generate ideas for the future.
The theme was explored into three different perspectives – clinical nursing practice, leadership and education.
Speakers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines including local speakers from local education institutions, government hospitals and private healthcare institutions participated in the conference.
Local speakers representing JPMC included Deputy Director of Nursing Salbiah Haji Daud, Clinical Nurse Specialist (Educator) Chakkaravarthy Karpagam and Staff Nurse Hajah Jerada Uddin Al-Raschid.
The local guest speakers were Director of Nursing of Gleneagles JPMC Chandra Devi Durairajoo, Nursing Officer Special Grade at Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital Sallehkamal Haji Baharudin, Senior Assistant Professor at Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences of Universiti Brunei Darussalam Dr Khadizah Haji Abdul Mumin, School of Health Sciences Head at Politeknik Brunei Armah Tengah, and Nursing Officer Special Grade and Head of Nursing Administration at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Hajah Kartini Haji Suhai.
Insightful perspectives from the neighbouring countries were shared by Nursing Assistant Director at the Lead for Centre for Asian Nursing Studies, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore Christopher Soh Kok Keng; Lecturer at Far Eastern University of the Philippines Neugene Rowan Cu; President of Tung Wah College, Hong Kong Professor Sally Chan; and Nursing Director at BNH Hospital, Bangkok Duangduan Bunyasartphan.
Director of Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health Chung Yea Fui said, “The creativity and innovativeness that nurses and midwives contribute to better their practice is with an intention of providing the best care for their patients.
“This selfless act is the main reason they are the important aspect of healthcare.”
The event concluded with a video appreciating the sacrifices and hard work that all nurses and midwives have contributed, especially over the past years with the COVID-19 pandemic.
