Myanmar will admit up to 3,600 trainees into the Nursing School this year, up from 1,800 in last year to address the shortage of nurses in the country, Myanmar News Agency reported Monday.

Minister of Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe told the Myanmar Nurse and Midfwife Council (MNMC) in its first plenary session in Yangon Sunday that the country is prioritizing to offer promotion of opportunities for nurses and midwives, while producing human resources of the two fields through diploma courses, off-campus and on-campus programs as the vitality of their role is equal to that of doctors and other staff of the medical field.

Myint Htwe urged the MNMC to establish links with international counterparts, develop efficiency promotion and other enforcement programs and enhance nursing and midwifery skill through cooperation with the Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Association.

He called for meeting the 11 points of the core competency standard, and assured the ministry's assistance for the MNMC.

The plenary session of the MNMC, which was opened at the University of Nurses, was attended by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein. Meanwhile, The World Health Organization (WHO) has been helping Myanmar train midwives by providing them proficiency courses and teaching aid on reducing mortality and mother death rate.

Besides, proficiency courses for health staff on vaccination for children under five and expectant mother care, participation in educative programs and enhancement of public health sector were also covered by the WHO aid.