Equatorial Guinea Trains 153 New Nurses

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Equatorial Guinea's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Foundation for the Development of Nursing (FUDEN), has concluded the training of 153 nurses. Developing a modern, professional nursing corps in the country is a critical part of the government's efforts to improve the public health care system in the nation.

The five-year program was carried out in cooperation with the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE) and the School of Health and Environment (EUSMA), the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation (AACID) and the Spanish municipalities of Lugo and Urretxu.

The new graduates are qualified to hold management positions in hospitals and health centers. The program has also served to improve the teaching resources and nursing curricula of UNGE and EUSMA.

A second phase of the nursing training program is already in place. The government aims to train 50 additional nursing assistants in this new rotation.

Equatorial Guinea has placed a priority on improving its health sector, including through in-country training courses and by increasing number of medical students who have study and train in universities around the world. The World Health Organization reported in 2012 that Equatorial Guinea spend more on health per capita than any other African country, with expenditures totaling four percent of GDP in 2011.  The government of Equatorial Guinea is seeking additional opportunities to cooperate with its other governments and international organizations to build capacity in the health sector.

About Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea