The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday approved a resolution authorizing the county to enter into an agreement with the University of Hawaii, which will allow the county Civil Defense Agency to work with UH-Hilo nursing students in the fight against COVID-19.
Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said the agency will work with program supervisors to determine different activities the nursing students can assist with based on need. That could include testing, contact tracing or another effort in the medical field.
“We want to make sure it’s a rewarding experience so they’re gaining some experience and knowledge in their field,” Magno said.
Program supervisors have identified about 60 available students, he said.
The partnership, Magno said, benefits the county “because it gives us a little bit more capacity in our efforts to mitigate (the) coronavirus, and it’s beneficial to the community both because it’s filling a need and also training these medical students.”