history
The Philippine Oncology Nurses Association, Inc. (PONA) is an accredited nursing specialty organization of professional nurses by the Professional Regulatory Commission Board of Nursing (PRC BON). The organization, which is a non-profit, non-political, and non-sectarian in nature, composed of nurses involved and / or interested in the care of clients with cancer. PONA was formally recognized in 1993 during the term as President of Dr. Antonio Villalon in the Philippine Society of Oncologists. He called on a group of nurses working in different hospitals within Metro Manila through the Directors of Nursing Service. It was his plan to organize a group of oncology nurses to act as partners in care with the Philippine Society of Oncologists.
There were only a few representative nurses who responded to the call and these were from the Ospital ng Maynila, Santo Tomas University Hospital, National Children’s Hospital, St. Luke’s Medical Center, St. Paul’s College of Nursing, University of the Philippines College of Nursing and the Philippine General Hospital. The initial meeting was held in the Cancer Institute Auditorium presided by Dr. Villalon.
From an initial group of nine founding members, there are now about 900 members but some of these have migrated to other countries. The active members are about three hundred and fifty.
The 2006 officers are currently from Santo Tomas University Hospital, St. Paul University Manila College of Nursing, Asian Hospital, University of the Philippines College of Nursing and the Philippine General Hospital.
