With an aim to grow its own workforce, Te Marae Ora, Ministry of Health is ensuring that its medical staff are trained well to deserve the best care services in the country.

This week with the Postgraduate Midwifery programme– a 2nd Cohort was officially inaugurated by the Secretary of Health, Bob Williams, alongside a representative from Fiji National University (FNU) Mita McLaren.

The event also marked a significant milestone as the first Postgraduate Midwifery students received their official graduation certificates from FNU.

Williams told Cook Islands that there were five midwives for the first cohort who are currently completing their six months internship programme to fully complete the Midwifery Programme.

And there are five new midwives for the second cohort that started on Monday.

“TMO has an aging workforce and like the Nursing Pacific Bachelors Program for new nurses, this Postgrad Diploma Midwifery Programme is also to train new Midwives.

“It is important for TMO to continue to grow its own workforce and be trained well to ensure that the best care and service that all women and new mums deserve is delivered accordingly.”

Williams said that the introduction of the Baby Friendly Hospital initiative in December 2024 launched by the Health Minister Vainetutai Rose Toki Brown would require midwives to also support the delivery and implementation of that programme, starting on Rarotonga and then to be rolled out to the Pa Enua starting with Aitutaki and Pukapuka later this year.

 “The plan is to roll-out the Baby Friendly Hospital to the rest of the Pa Enua in the coming years. The Cook Islands since 1995 have recorded zero maternal deaths which remain a significant milestone for the Cook Islands.”

He said that this programme in partnership with the FNU is to ensure that TMO staff receive quality training to deliver quality services to the people of the Cook Islands.  

“This is a 12 months in-country programme with lecturers from the Fiji National University delivering the courses in-country with the last 8 weeks placement to specialty areas at the Fiji CWM Hospital to complete the programme. This mode of delivery allows the five staff to remain in-country while undertaking their study to be with their families and co-workers except for the last 8 weeks.”

Williams added that there are currently 22 midwives on Rarotonga and 11 midwives based in the Pa Enua.