A NEW $21.18 million extension building for the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) was officially launched by HRH Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah in a ceremony yesterday, marking another milestone in medical education in the country.

Also present at the ceremony, which coincided with the opening of the 10th International Nursing and Midwifery Conference (INMC) 2014, was HRH Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah.

The day saw HRH Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah signing a plaque to officiate the new extension building, and after delivering a sabda, HRH opened the 10th INMC.

The state-of-the art extension building, which began construction in October 2011, is the first environmentally-friendly building in Brunei that offers, among others, simulation centres, simulated general wards, Harvard-style lecture theatres, health clinic, problem-based learning rooms and research and teaching laboratories.

The extension building will also house the office of the Royal College of Physicians (UK) and office of the Royal College of General Practitioner (UK).

Meanwhile, the two-day international conference which carries the theme ‘Advancing Education and Practice to Global Health Challenges’ gathers over 300 eminent professors in nursing and midwifery, and other prominent individuals in healthcare to analyse the unique and complex global health challenges facing this profession.

According to a UBD press release, the aim of the conference is to disseminate new development in education, practice, management and research to global health challenges in nursing and midwifery profession.

It will also expose participants to discussions on education paradigm and evidence-based practices in nursing and midwifery.

PAPRSB IHS Dean Dr Hjh Maslina Haji Mohsin in her welcoming address noted that the conference will also provide an opportunity for local and international health education experts to share their experience and best practices on matters that are ultimately affecting patients care, enhancing the health and hence the quality of life of our community.

“It is hoped the participants will be able to increase their effectiveness in leading the nursing and midwifery profession’s efforts to shape the ongoing transformation in the healthcare system,” she added.

There will be eight plenary sessions and seven parallel sessions during the conference, and pre-conference workshops were recently conducted in UBD. Besides the main lecture, the conference also includes posters presentation and competitions as well as exhibition booths.

The conference opening yesterday also saw a keynote address entitled ‘Leadership and Professionalism in Nursing and Midwifery: Education, Practice and Research’ delivered by Professor Eileen Savage, the Chair in Nursing and Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery at University Cork College, Ireland.

Conference participants include nurses and midwifery practitioners, nursing/midwifery educators, researchers, students and policy makers in nursing and midwifery as well as public health and other allied health professions from inside and outside of the region.

Following the opening ceremony, Their Royal Highnesses were given a tour of the new extension building, where exhibition booths were erected. - Borneo Bulletin (27 June 2014)