Acting Dean of FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS), Dr Amelia Turagabeci with Secretary for Te Marae Ora Bob Williams.
SUVA, FIJI – In a significant step toward strengthening regional healthcare capacity, the Fiji National University (FNU) and the Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health (TMO) of the Cook Islands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand access to quality health education and training across the Pacific.
The formal signing ceremony occurred at FNU’s Pasifika Campus in Suva last Friday, marking a milestone in an already growing partnership. The MOU aims to develop and deliver various health education programmes, including Nursing, Public Health, Oral Health, and other relevant fields, tailored to meet the needs of the Cook Islands’ healthcare system.
Secretary of Health, Bob Williams said it was a moment of formalisation, not a beginning. “Our students have already been participating in programmes such as the MBBS degree at FNU, with internship pathways now evolving to allow training to occur back home in Rarotonga. With this MOU, we’re solidifying the groundwork laid over the past few years,” Williams said.
Williams highlighted the importance of the new arrangement in addressing critical workforce shortages in the health sector, noting that distance and blended learning offered by FNU allows Cook Islands health professionals to continue working while upgrading their skills. “The global shortage of health workers is a challenge we all share. This MOU helps us train our workforce at home, supported by FNU’s flexible learning models,” he added.
The MOU also acknowledges the success of midwifery training programmes, with the first cohort of Cook Islands nurses now completing their six-month internship locally. Other recent initiatives include scoping for oral health training, with plans to enable more virtual and in-country learning opportunities.
“Today’s signing is not the end but it’s a new beginning. We’re looking forward to ongoing engagement, dialogue, and development as we build a healthier Pacific,” Williams said.
Speaking at the event, Acting Dean of FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS), Dr Amelia Turagabeci, emphasised the importance of unity in the Pacific. “This is not just a formal agreement but it’s a celebration of our Pacific family,” she said.
“Whether Melanesian, Polynesian or Micronesian, we are connected. This partnership is about lifting our region together.”
Dr Turagabeci also acknowledged the various contributions of FNU’s academic and support staff, noting their commitment to ensuring the delivery of programmes meet international standards.
“We are a training institution and a research institution, and we are proud to support the Cook Islands in building a resilient, skilled health workforce.”
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