From 27 – 29 March, 2020 Penang will be hosting the Malaysian Nurses Association (MNA)’s Annual General Meeting 2020 at Bayview Beach Resort in Batu Feringghi. It is organised by the Malaysian Nurses Association and supported by the MNA Penang Chapter and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), the AGM will be happening concurrently with the MNA National Scientific Conference.

Both events will be expecting an attendance of 1500 nurses from all over the country. The significance of both events plays a bigger role this year as they are held in conjunction with the Year of The Nurse, designated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in honour of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

The press conference announcing these events was chaired by YB Yeoh Soon Hin (Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism, Arts, Culture & Heritage) and attended by Ashwin Gunasekeran (Chief Executive Officer of PCEB), as well as representatives from the MNA –Vimala Devi Subrayan (Chairperson of the Malaysian Nurses Association (Penang Chapter)), Pat Lim Chooi Ewe (Advisor of Malaysian Nurses Association) and Islinda bt Mat Zor (Secretary of Malaysian Nurses Association).

YB Yeoh Soon Hin, the Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism, Arts, Culture & Heritage said “Previously held in Malacca and Terengganu for the past two years, we are glad for Penang to be chosen and voted by the Malaysian Nurses Association (MNA) nationwide to host their Annual General Meeting as well as their MNA National Scientific Conference this year,”.

“We look forward to greater discussions for new ways of care and in enabling and motivating more Malaysian nurses for their efforts in the medical industry,” he added.

 Ashwin Gunasekeran, PCEB’s CEO said “Penang’s status as a global medical and medical tourism hub allows the state to welcome more medical-related conferences and business events like from the Malaysian Nurses Association, where we will be able to initiate insightful discussions with the various professionals and best medical care practices within the field,”.

 He added “In 2019, Penang recorded a total of 318 events from the medical sciences sector, which shows promise on Penang being continuously recognised as a hub for related conferences and events”.

MNA was first formed in 1951 and currently consists of around 60,000 members which comprises of only registered nurses in Malaysia. The association organises other annual activities for its members which includes the yearly council meetings, as well as hosting and celebrating the International Nurses Day on 12th of May annually. They also conduct seminars, courses and workshops for registered members and student members, and carry out services for communities in need.