Nese Ituaso-Conway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr. Nese Ituaso-Conway
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Nese Ituaso-Conway in 2008
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| Nationality | Tuvaluan |
| Education | MBBS (Fiji School of Medicine) MPH (University of Hawaii) |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Doctor & public servant |
| Field | Public health Tropical medicine |
| Institutions | Princess Margaret Hospital (Funafuti) |
Nese Ituaso-Conway is an important public servant from Tuvalu, a small island nation. She is known for being one of the first two female doctors from Tuvalu. She has held many important roles in her country's government, including working in the Prime Minister's office and the Ministry of Public Works.
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Becoming a Doctor: Nese Ituaso-Conway's Education
Nese Ituaso-Conway was born on Nanumaga island in Tuvalu. She went to school in Tuvalu at Motufoua Secondary School. Later, she finished her high school education in Australia at Cathedral School, Townsville.
After high school, she was accepted into the Fiji School of Medicine. She earned a special medical degree called a MBBS. After graduating, she worked for a year at a main hospital in Fiji. In 1999, she returned to Tuvalu. She and Dr. Miliama Simeona became the first two women from Tuvalu to become doctors. Dr. Ituaso-Conway also earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Hawaii. This degree helped her learn more about keeping communities healthy.
Dr. Ituaso-Conway's Medical Work
Dr. Nese Ituaso-Conway worked for Tuvalu's Department of Health. She became the chief medical officer for the country. In this role, she helped manage programs to improve public health. She also worked to fight Tropical diseases common in the islands.
Some of these diseases include Tuberculosis (TB) and Elephantiasis tropica, also known as Lymphatic filariasis. In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of dengue fever in Tuvalu. Dengue fever had not been seen in many Pacific Island countries for about twenty years before it reappeared.
Dr. Ituaso-Conway was also part of international groups that help coordinate health efforts in Pacific island nations. These groups include:
- The Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN): This group works with the Secretariat of Pacific Communities (SPC) and the WHO to watch for health problems.
- The Pacific Response Fund Committee (PRFC): This committee helps fund programs to fight HIV in the region.
She was also the manager for Tuvalu's TB program. This program is part of the SPC Public Health Division. She helped write the Global Tuberculosis Report, which the World Health Organization publishes every year.
Working in Government Administration
Beyond her medical work, Dr. Ituaso-Conway has held important leadership roles in the Tuvaluan government.
In 2018, she was the CEO, or Permanent Secretary, for the Office of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu. A Permanent Secretary is like a top manager for a government department.
In 2020, Dr. Ituaso-Conway became the CEO (Permanent Secretary) for the Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure, Environment, Labor, Meteorology and Disaster. This role involved managing many important areas for the country.
See also
In Spanish: Nese Ituaso-Conway para niños
