DoLE Region 3 Public Information Officer Jerry Borja said the program is now on its second batch of deployment with some 235 nurses deployed in November in 45 municipalities in the region for a six-month tour of duty.
The DOLE said the project NARS is designed to mobilize registered nurses to the poorest communities in the region as a way to improve the delivery of health care services.
He said the nurses were mobilized in various poorest municipalities as warriors for wellness to do the three I's - Initiate primary health, school nutrition, maternal health programs, first line diagnosis; Inform about community water sanitation practices and also do health surveillance; and Immunize children and mothers.
They also serve as roving nurses for rural schools, he said.
Out of the total number, 70 nurses were assigned in 12 towns Pampanga; 50 were deployed in 10 municipalities in Nueva Ecija; 50 in Zambales; 30 in Tarlac; 21 in Bataan; and 14 in Aurora. Each nurse will receive P8,000 allowance per month for six months, he added.
President Arroyo launched the NARS program on Feb. 9, 2009 in an effort to address the glut in inexperienced nurses and the proliferation of "volunteer nurses" working in hospitals without being paid.
Instead, they themselves pay the hospitals to obtain certificates of work experience.
Completion of the training program under the NARS program shall be considered as a substitute for the work experience requirement of hospitals and other health facilities, both local and overseas.
The certificate of completion will be issued jointly by the DoLE, Department of Health and Professional Regulations Commission.
The Philippines--providing nurses for the world.(exodus of nurses from The Philippines ): An article from: Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand
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