ʻAmelia Afuhaʻamango Tuʻipulotu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
ʻAmelia Afuhaʻamango Tuʻipulotu
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| Minister for Health | |
| In office 10 October 2019 – 28 December 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa |
| Preceded by | Saia Piukala |
| Succeeded by | Saia Piukala |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | none |
ʻAmelia Afuhaʻamango Tuʻipulotu is a well-known nurse from Tonga. She also served as the Minister for Health for her country. Her career shows how important nurses are, both in their home country and around the world.
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Early Life and Education
Amelia Tuʻipulotu trained to become a nurse. She gained valuable experience by working in both Australia and Tonga. She received a special scholarship, called an Australian Development Scholarship. This allowed her to study at the University of Sydney in Australia.
In 2012, she made history. Amelia Tuʻipulotu became the very first Tongan person to earn a PhD in Nursing. A PhD is the highest university degree you can get.
Career in Health
After finishing her studies, Amelia Tuʻipulotu returned to Tonga. She began working for Tonga's Ministry of Health. This is the government department in charge of healthcare. She became the Matron of the Nursing Department at Vaiola Hospital. A matron is a senior nurse who manages a team of other nurses.
Becoming a Government Minister
In October 2019, something big happened. Amelia Tuʻipulotu was chosen to be the Minister of Health. She joined the cabinet, which is a group of top government officials. The Prime Minister at the time was Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa.
What made her appointment special was that she was the only minister who was not a member of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. This means she wasn't an elected politician before becoming a minister.
Working with the World Health Organization
Amelia Tuʻipulotu also took on important international roles. In May 2020, she was elected to a position on the executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is a special agency of the United Nations that focuses on global health. Her role was called a Rapporteur.
In December 2021, a new Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, took office. He appointed Saia Piukala as the new Minister of Health.
However, Amelia Tuʻipulotu continued her important work. In December 2022, she was appointed the WHO's Chief Nursing Officer. This is a very important job where she helps guide nursing practices around the world.
Honours
Amelia Tuʻipulotu has received special recognition for her work.
She was made a Member of the Order of the Crown of Tonga on July 6, 2021. This is a national honour given to people who have done great things for Tonga.
