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The Committee notes with interest the detailed information provided by the Government in its report, and the attached documentation. It notes in particular Deliberation No. 98-128 APF of 20 August 1998 providing for the specific conditions of service of nursing personnel in the public service of the territory of French Polynesia, and Deliberation No. 95-249 AT of 14 December 1995 relating to the specific conditions of service of medical auxiliaries in the public service of the territory of French Polynesia, as amended by Deliberation No. 98-35 APF of 17 April 1998 with respect to the final date for applications for integration into the public service of the territory of French Polynesia, Deliberation No. 98-177 AFP of 29 October 1998 amending the Deliberations issuing the specific conditions of service of employment in the public service of the territory of French Polynesia and Deliberation No. 98-186 AFP of 19 November 1998.

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, no provision has been adopted concerning the services provided by nursing personnel on a voluntary basis. It requests the Government to indicate the measures that it intends to take in future in relation to such personnel.

Article 2, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that the Government refers to the "Health Plan" approved by the Assembly of French Polynesia, which sets out the main lines of the territory’s general policy in the field of health. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of this plan for the period 2000-04, which is currently being validated.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the existing provisions which it indicates give effect to this Article of the Convention. In this respect, the Committee recalls its observation of 1990, reiterated in 1994, concerning the measures to be taken to adapt occupational safety and health legislation to the particular risk of accidental exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among nursing personnel. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures which have been taken or are envisaged in this respect.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes, from the information provided by the Government, that the Nursing Care Training Institute trains 25 students annually, of whom around 20 obtain a diploma. The Committee also notes that the number of students produced by the Nursing Care Training Institute is inadequate to ensure the renewal of the posts which are left vacant, which therefore have to be filled by nurses from outside the territory. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the solutions which have been adopted or are envisaged to resolve the problem of replacing nursing personnel upon the departure of non-local personnel, and to indicate the geographical origins of nurses recruited outside the territory. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing full particulars on the application of the Convention in practice.