27 Meghalaya nurses to serve in Japan

Shillong: The Overseas Nursing Job Fair held last year has turned out to be a major turning point for 27 nurses from Meghalaya who are all set to begin their professional journey in Japan after completing Japanese language training. With their new-found skill, the nurses will be placed across various hospitals and care homes in Japan.
As part of the Skills Meghalaya scheme, the state govt is sponsoring Rs 50,000 for each candidate through the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS).“This support aims to cover 300 nurses in the coming years,” an official in the health department said.
Chief minister Conrad K Sangma, who met with the teachers and students involved in this initiative, said, “It is great to see nurses from the state move out and serve people overseas. I also urge others to come forward and take the opportunity not only to earn a livelihood overseas but also to enhance their knowledge and career”.
The Skills Meghalaya initiative, under which this training was conducted, aims to equip the youth with much needed skills. The programme, organised by MSSDS and the department of health & family welfare, collaborates with potential firms to provide language training and job placement opportunities.
The 27 nurses had registered with NAVIS, a Japanese language and culture training centre for language training and cultural immersion in Bengaluru. “Five nurses have already received their visas, and two travelled to Japan on May 27. The remaining visas are currently being processed,” the health department official said, adding that 14 nurses have been placed in various institutes in Singapore as well which is through a different agency. T hey would join in about three months.
“Despite the challenges of learning a new language, the students found the experience rewarding and engaging. The selection of these nurses followed an Overseas Nursing Job Fair held in August 2023, which saw an overwhelming response with over 1000 registrations from across the state. This initiative is part of a broader effort to provide employment opportunities for nurses and to enhance their professional skills,” the official said.