Category Archives: India

2014 in Review

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2014 was marked by numerous opportunities to meet, exchange ideas and learn with my colleagues and to make a change in my role with the Association of Registered Nurses of BC (ARNBC).  During the course of the past 12 months, I have moved from being interim executive director to interim policy lead and, by year end, to senior consultant, nursing leadership.

I attended stimulating meetings and conferences throughout the year, the first being the annual Quality Forum hosted by the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council. The highlight was a presentation by Robert Francis, who led the public inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire National Health Service Foundation Trust in the UK. The audience heard some of the inside story through his description of meeting with patients, families and the brave whistleblowers who insisted that the systemic organizational failures be made public and acted upon. I have continued to follow the story as others have been writing about the issues that came to light and the changes underway as a result of the Francis Report.

CANADIAN NURSES ASSOCIATION

BC Nurses at CNA AGM and Convention
June 2014

ARNBC Booth at CNA AGM and Convention 2014

ARNBC Booth at CNA AGM and Convention Winnipeg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another important event was the annual meeting and convention of the Canadian Nurses Association in Winnipeg in June, where I was part of the team from British Columbia. Highlights included meeting nurses from across the country, observing the proceedings during the AGM, being present for the installation of Karima Velji as CNA President–and saying a fond farewell to outgoing President Barb Mildon–and holding a great breakfast meeting with the Steering Committee for the newly formed Manitoba RN Network.

Meeting of ARNBC Board and Staff with members of the Steering Committee, Manitoba RN Network in Winnipeg

 

Ms. Charanjit Kaur and Mr. H.C. Rawat
From Baba Farid University of Health Sciences
Visit to UBC, Vancouver – June 2014

VISITORS FROM INDIA

The University of British Columbia School of Nursing in Vancouver, Canada and Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Punjab, India have continued their partnership to advance nursing research and to strengthen hospital nursing practice through continuing education. I have enjoyed my ongoing role during the past few years as a member of the partnership advisory committee.

Visits by faculty members of both institutions continued in 2014 as they worked on joint initiatives through the support of the two universities and the Canada India Education Society.  I was pleased to reconnect with colleagues from India for an informal dinner during their visit to Vancouver in June.

These personal connections with colleagues always stand out as high points of the year as a source of inspiration and ideas for my work…to be continued in 2015.

 

 

Nora Whyte

December 31, 2014

News from India: Launch of Dhahan Village Improvement Project

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Visit to Dhahan Village, Punjab

 

Two years ago during a visit to India with colleagues from Canada, we spent an interesting afternoon touring Dhahan village in rural Punjab and meeting with community members. We learned about concerns with lack of sewerage treatment and observed issues with open ponds and garbage in this otherwise beautiful rural setting.

Last month the Canada India Education Society (CIES), in conjunction with the Dhahan village council and the Punjab state government, announced the Dhahan Village Improvement Project.

Dhahan Village 2011

 

 

Elements of the project will include a sanitary sewer system, improvements in the water supply, and installation of solar street lighting. The project also has an educational aspect aimed at raising awareness about community practices that will help maintain the overall environment of the village and its surrounding area. It is such a great example of people coming together to implement changes that will make a difference to public health and the environment.

Please visit the CIES website to view a video on the project.

Congratulations to all the partners involved in getting this initiative underway!

Nora Whyte

Nora’s Update – August 2012

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Russian Sage at the Beach House Summer 2012

People often ask what I’m doing these days and what projects I have on the go. When I’m not in the garden—the Russian sage is performing beautifully this year–I’m managing the work of the Association of Registered Nurses of BC (see my July 22 Memorable Moments post below). My role includes working closely with the Board of Directors in overall coordination of our activities to develop a new professional nursing association in British Columbia.

As some of you know, I have remained interested in and connected to a project in India. The University of British Columbia School of Nursing and the Canada-India Education Society (CIES) have had a longstanding relationship with health care and nursing education initiatives in Punjab state through the Guru Nanak Mission Medical and Educational Trust. From 2001 to 2005, I worked as a consultant on a primary health care project that focused on community-based activities in villages near the Guru Nanak Mission Hospital and its affiliated College of Nursing at Dhahan-Kaleran in Nawanshahr District.

Following a visit to India in February 2011 by a small delegation from CIES and UBC (see my Highlights of 2011 post), a new relationship was begun with Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). All nursing colleges in Punjab state, including the Guru Nanak College, come under the umbrella of this large university located in Faridkot, in western Punjab.

Map of Punjab State and Districts

The overall goal of the new partnership is to provide for an exchange of educational and research opportunities to build capacity bilaterally. Specific objective are to contribute to the professional development of nurse educators, strengthen graduate nursing education and increase research capacity throughout the colleges associated with the BFUHS system. I am pleased to serve on the Baba Farid Partnership Advisory Committee of the UBC School of Nursing and was delighted to meet with two nursing faculty members from BFUHS in June while they were visiting UBC.  I look forward to similar exchanges as this partnership develops.

Nora Whyte

August 14, 2012