Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Philippine Department of Health (DoH) will train 10,000 nurses for deployment in depressed areas of the country early this year, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said Wednesday.
This is part of the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement And Local Service (RH Heals) project conceptualized by the DoH, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in a bid to provide health care to poor communities in rural areas and employment to the many jobless nurses, Ona said.
Through the program, the DoH hopes to address "the inadequate supply of skilled nurses and increase the nurses' employment rate," Ona said.
He said the nurses will be deployed in 1,221 rural and unserved or underserved communities across the country and "eventually, these nurses will be part of the pool of competent nurses for later employment or absorption in health facilities."
The Department of Labor and Employment will be in charge of the recruitment process through its regional offices starting January 17, Ona said. A volunteer nurse will receive about 10,000 pesos (US$227) per month.
Participating nurses will attend learning and development sessions to equip them with needed skills. Those who finish the training and complete the necessary requirements will be given certificates of competency and employment by the DoH, DSWD, and the Professional Regulation Commission.
The local government units in the areas where the nurses will be assigned are the ones tasked to oversee the project.
A basic allowance of 8,000 pesos ($181) per month will be received by a volunteer nurse. At the same time, host LGUs will provide at least 2,000 pesos ($45) worth of allowances and benefits, board and lodging, aside from ensuring the nurses' safety, and security.
Their insurance will be covered by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the Government Service Insurance System.
Registered nurses interested in joining the program may apply online at the DOLE website starting January 17 to February 4.
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10,000 Philippine nurses to be trained, deployed in rural communities - Yahoo! Philippines News