Top functionaries pay tribute to them for services
NURSES countrywide were, yesterday reminded that they must be motivated by love for people in order to, efficiently, carry out their functions.
The admonition was from Permanent Secretary, Mr. Trevor Thomas, who spoke on behalf of Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand, at a function in the Palms Geriatric Home, Brickdam, Georgetown. Nurses from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) were also in attendance at the programme to mark ‘International Nurses Day’ and were joined by Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford.
Thomas, alluded to the different challenges faced by nurses, compared the uphill task of caring for a single family member as against several elderly persons not related by blood.
“With age comes another level of vulnerability,” he remarked, referring to the limited resources available to nurses and declared that, for them to stay on the job has to do with love of providing a service.
Thomas said millions of dollars are being spent on refurbishing wards, installing television sets and establishing a facility that could see staffers, who live far distances away from The Palms, sleeping in and being provided with something to eat.
He said, further, the ministry has already organised the purchasing of gymnasium equipment, since last year, for the elderly to take part in regular exercise. That was done after taking into consideration the needs of the inmates as well as the staff.
Thomas recalled that a performance audit of the institution was done recently but only the few negatives in that report were found in the public domain.
He lamented that the many good things in the documentation, because they were not sensational, did not make it for public consumption.
Minister Westford commended nurses for their services and acknowledged that it takes a special personality to remain in the profession, which calls for giving and would put the interests of others first.
She observed that those in the profession would feel physically tired at the end of the day but, if a nurse loves the job, that feeling is surpassed by mental happiness that comes from helping others.

Honoured
Westford opined that old age is a blessing and said those who reach three scores and ten (70-years-old) should be honoured.
She urged nurses to be true to their pledge of respecting those in charge. “Listen to senior nurses. “Listen to advice,” she advised, admonishing them not to settle for one position decade after decade but endeavour to improve themselves and make use of the existing facilitating opportunities and systems.
Westford concurred that the 2011 observance theme ‘Closing the gap – increasing access and equity for everyone’ could not be more apt as every person must have equal access to proper health care.
About the way nurses should conduct themselves, she told them: “You have to comport yourselves so that people will respect you.”
Westford also exhorted the seniors to help educate younger nurses by passing on useful knowledge.
Without disclosing any details, she said certain promises, made by her before the start of the programme, will be fulfilled immediately.
Palms Administrator Govind Singh expressed appreciation for the services offered by nurses and admitted that their work is no easy task, as they are open to physical harm and contagious diseases on a daily basis.