KWHCA / KWNC Representatives Called on
SASC Secretary Cheong U

Leaders of Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association including Chairman Ma Iao Lai, Vice-Chairman Ho Va Tim, Secretary-General Ng Pui Kun, Executive Directors Pun Iuk Lan, Vong Kok Seng and Director Lou I Wa, together with KWNC President Florence Van, Asst. to President Cindy Xing and Associate Prof. Michelle Zhu, etc. formed a visiting group to call on Secretary Cheong U at the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of MSAR government in the morning March 31, 2010. Members of the group were warmly greeted by Secretary Cheong U, Director of Secretary’s Office Cheong So Mui, Consultant Vong Vai Han and Director of Macau Health Bureau Lei Chin Ion. Both parties had a good discussion over the issues on the development, training and proper use of Macau’s nursing manpower as well as the enhancement of medical quality in an active atmosphere.

Chairman Ma thanked Secretary Cheong for his kind reception while fully engaged in administration routine, this showes that the work of charitable organization is taken into account by Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture. He gave a briefing on KWNC’s historical progress and operation situation. Then President Van reported that according to the College’s research on a ten-year Plan for the community and hospital nursing manpower in Macau, together with the specialists’ opinions collected from the Jan 16 Seminar on a ten-year prospect for the tertiary nursing education in Macau, the shortage of nursing work force in Macau is the most crucial and urgent problem currently faced by the hospitals and related organizations. Referring to the ratio shown in neighboring areas, the number of nurse shortage will rise to 1,600 by 2020. Moreover, the existing care services currently provided is limited for only the demands of hospitals (secondary healthcare), not to mention a sound condition for the health promotion and special care (primary level) as well as the rehabilitation (tertiary level) needs. As a result, these factors tend to restrict Macau’s medical development.

In respond to the increasing demands for nursing manpower in the locality, the College has worked out a ten-year development plan to enlarge recruitment of students and training of diversified and level-based healthcare workers while setting up a Nursing & Health Education Research Centre that is focused on the elderly care to meet the challenge of serious population aging in Macau. Thanks to the special grants supported by DSEJ and the approval of new Nurse Career Regime, the employment and remuneration condition for nurses have been improved recently, and the number of nursing program applicants has got increased accordingly. Besides, the College encourages the experienced nursing workers or those with the first degree to pursuit further studies, in expectation that the student numbers will increase up to 800 within the next 5 years. Nevertheless, the restriction of insufficient campus areas has been far too weak to meet students’ demands and program development. Finally Assoc. Prof. Zhu passed forward the opinions from students over care service and College development.

Secretary Cheong U affirmed the efforts that Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association had made over the years, leading Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau at the front of nurse cultivation to bring forth a great number of quality caregivers. The medical course of Macau is developing on the fast track. And any appeals on medical service will be the SAR government’s concern. Since an island hospital and five health centers will be scheduled to build in the near future, the needs for nursing manpower will further increase. He promised to look into the problem of nurse shortage and give support to the College for the existing difficulties. Then Director Lei described the long-term collaboration between Health Bureau and the College, especially on the recent injection project of HIN1 vaccine all over Macau. Many KWNC students have participated in the epidemic prevention work, as a backing force to the Bureau. He looked forward to seeing more nurse talents growing up from the ground of nursing education run by KWHCA.

Other representatives of KWNC present at the courtesy visit were Executive Officer Stella Lei and Deputy EO Annette Lau of Extra-Mural Studies Dept, Assoc. Prof. Andrew Luk and Asst. EO of General Administrative Dept. Yoki Cheong.