Malaysia needs 90,000 nurses: inks MOU with Silliman U

Negros Chronicle: Malaysia announced its need of 90,000 staff nurses presently and 174,000 by the year 2020 if only to hit its ideal ratio of 1 nurse for every 200 Malaysian population.
In this connection, Silliman University (SU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Asian College of Nursing and Health (AC) based in Malaysia for a partnership that will involve training of student-nurses in Malaysia and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
SU President Dr. Agustin Pulido and AC Co- President Datuk Muhamad Abdullah, on behalf of AC President Dato Dr. Affifudin Omar, formalized the agreement on April 11 at Silliman University in this city, enjoining both parties to assist in the development of high quality nurses for the public and private sectors of Malaysia and the ASEAN Region.
AC Co-President Datuk Muhamad Abdullah is the former Deputy Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament (Lower House) and President Dato Dr. Affifudin Omar is the former Deputy Finance Minister of the Government of Malaysia.
SUCN Dean Dr. Ma. Teresa Sy-Sinda said the MOU is geared toward improving the effectiveness and competence of would-be nurses through excellent quality education and clinical exposures in their professional growth and development.
A memorandum of agreement will be signed at a later date to spell out each institution's responsibilities and obligations under the partnership.
Malaysia has been reported to be experiencing a shortage of nurses. In a news item published in the March 10, 2006 issue of the Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times, Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek was quoted saying that the country is still short of 90,000 staff nurses and would need 174,000 by 2020 to achieve the 1:200 population ratio.
Silliman has been chosen for its high academic standards, having been designated by the Commission on Higher Education as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. It is considered as among the best performing schools in the Philippines, in terms of performance in the Licensure Examination for Nurses, and is one of only two institutions in the country that offer a PhD Program in Nursing.