Filipino Nuses Support Group Media release

Will community organizations benefit from Federal Government's $75 million initiative to bring in more foreign-trained professionals into the health system

For immediate release: April 26, 2005

Local advocacy group of Philippine trained nurses question whether the $75 million to speed up process of accreditation and integration of 1000 foreign-trained doctors, 800 nurses and 500 other health professionals, benefit community organizations active and successful in helping integrate foreign-trained professionals into BC's workforce.

The Filipino Nurses Support Group (FNSG) have been advocating and supporting Philippine-trained nurses for the past 10 years building a membership and contact database of over 600 Filipino nurses. FNSG's community-based initiatives, which include community research, bi-weekly nursing review and English review classes, and peer counseling have supported over 160 Philippine-trained nurses become registered and many are now working in BC's health care system.

"FNSG has relied primarily on volunteer and self-reliant efforts and have proven successful not only in empowering Philippine-trained nurses become registered, but also in contributing to BC's health care system as many of them are now working in many BC hospitals and facilities," states Sheila Farrales, registered nurse and member of the FNSG.

Filipino nurses have their legacy in building the health care system of Canada. During the 1960s and 1970s, Filipino nurses were recruited and worked immediately as nurses in Canada through reciprocity agreements.

But today in the midst of a nursing shortage in unprecedented proportions, Canada brings in nurses as live-in "nannies" or 24-hour home support workers under the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), a program of CIC and HRSDC. CIC grants the nursing profession too few points for foreign-trained nurses wanting to enter as landed immigrants.

Today at the announcement, Multiculturalism Minister Hon. Raymond Chan, promised to financially support the capacity building of community groups, like FNSG. "FNSG will continue our community-based programs, and continue to urge federal and provincial governments to concretely recognize and support the community work of FNSG," continues Farrales.

For more information, contact Leah at 604-255-6870 or fnsg@kalayaancentre.net. -30--