A new curriculum is to be introduced in 2006 for students who will train to become community health workers.

One of the first institutions to implement the new curriculum will be the Raihu Nursing School in Aitape, Sandaun Province.

The school was given the approval for implementation after a visit by officials from the Department of National Health.

The officials, who were from the department’s health support services program (HSSP), carried out an assessment on the school’s facilities and resources.

HSSP officer, Jan Matterson said the assessment and meetings with school authorities were important as it enabled them to find out what needed to be done in order for the program to work successfully.

"When there is good infrastructure and good teaching staff, this will then produce quality training. Our visit is to assess whatever resources there are and look for possibilities in upgrading so that the school may be able to implement the new curriculum," Mrs. Matterson said.

She said there are plans to build several new classrooms, extend the library and also build and aid post for students to use for practical lessons.

The Raihu School of Nursing was the sixth the health officers visited under the review program.

They will visit seven others in the lead-up to the implementation of the new curriculum.