Balimo School of Nursing official opening
WP Governor Taboi Awi Yoto cutting the ribbon to officially open the Balimo School of Nursing, along with Delta Fly MP Agena Gamai, SDP CEO Lesieli Taviri and KTF CEO Dr. Genevieve Nelson.
The nursing students taking the guests on a tour around the new Balimo School of Nursing campus.
On July 16th 2025 we celebrated a significant milestone in nursing education in Western Province with the official opening of the K52 million SDP Balimo College School of Nursing.
The school was officially opened by Western Provincial Governor Taboi Awi Yoto and Delta Fly MP Agena Gamai, and witnessed by our CEO Lesieli Taviri and KTF CEO Dr Genevieve Nelson, alongside our partners, students and the local community.
The school welcomed its first enrollment of 32 students for the Bachelor in General Nursing program this year. The degree program is accredited under the Divine Word University, and KTF (Kokoda Track Foundation) manages the college.
Speaking at the opening, our CEO reaffirmed SDP’s commitment to building local capacity.
“We wanted to establish a quality institution that would develop and educate Western Province people to return and serve in their communities. The School of Nursing reflects our vision to build educated, healthy and resilient communities,” she said.
“Thankyou for the work you do to serve my people of Delta Fly and Western Province,” said Hon. Gamai.
Ms Taviri also acknowledged the continued support of Governor Yoto and MP Gamai, and paid tribute to the late Middle Fly Member Roy Biyama who was instrumental in the college’s early development.