THE Faculty of Nursing Medicine and Health Sciences (FNMHS) at Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is now offering a 15-week acupuncture training program at the Kukum Campus.
This followed its official launch last Wednesday.
The program, organized by the China Medical Team (CMT) in Solomon Islands, features lectures by two Chinese acupuncture specialists, Dr Daniel Li and Dr Gary Xu, who are educating students and staff of SINU on the fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with a focus on acupuncture.
Over 100 faculty members and students attended the launching ceremony, expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming training sessions.
Dean of FNMHS, Dr Hampress Harrington emphasized the significance of the training, noting the global presence of acupuncture clinics in countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
“Alternative medicine is not yet well-established in our country, but through this training, we can begin to incorporate it, particularly within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services,” he added, “If that can happen in other more developed countries, why is it not in the Solomon Islands to have a system in place to entertain alternative medicine for our people?”
On behalf of the faculty, Dr Harrington thanked CMT and the Chinese Embassy in the Solomon Islands for initiating the training program.
A representative of the Chinese Embassy, Miss Han also addressed the gathering, congratulating everyone on the successful commencement of the training.
Ms Han said since the first time that acupuncture was brought to the Solomon Islands by CMT in 2022, it brought positive changes and benefited many Solomon Islanders.
“I believe this training will provide you with valuable knowledge and expand your understanding of traditional Chinese medicine, particularly acupuncture. By the end of this course, I am confident that many of you will be inspired to become skilled acupuncturists, helping to alleviate pain in your communities,” she said.
Over the past two years, CMT has provided services both at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) and in remote communities across the Solomon Islands, treating more than 8,000 patients with acupuncture, many of whom have experienced significant pain relief.
