AS the 2019 International Nurses’ week concluded in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) several nurses received awards for consistent and outstanding service over the years.
Nurses Yelena Doodnauth of Melanie Health Centre and Fazia Bacchus of Timehri Health centre, were awarded as Nurses of the Year for their respective borders on the East Coast and East Bank.

The awards were presented at a fun day on Saturday held at the Better Hope Community Centre and attended by nurses from the health centres and two hospitals in Region Four.
Copping the Regional Health Officer (RHO) Special Award were Senior Health Visitor for East Coast, Iona Barker-Wickham; Senior Health Visitor for the East Bank, Joyce Phillips; and Matron of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre (DDC), Sabrina Phillips.

Receiving the RHO Appreciation Awards for Outstanding and continuous support were nurse Aletha July of the Kuru Kururu Health centre, and Nurse Sedel Blake, of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Presenting the respective awards to the Nurses of the Year, Senior Health Visitors Iona Barker-Wickham and Joyce Phillips reminded the nurses that their contributions to health in their regions are highly appreciated.

The women expressed appreciation to the Region Four RHO, Dr. Quincy Jones for his inclusive, cooperative, helpful and pragmatic approach to issues affecting nurses within the region.

“Region Four is certainly blessed and in better position with Dr. Quincy Jones as our Regional Health Officer (RHO), and this is evident from the cooperation and achievements that we have collectively achieved with him being here for a mere year,” Barker-Wickham said.

“I remain forever grateful and thankful, because with his experience and willingness to involve all we are continuing to grow significantly.”
Meanwhile, Matron Sabrina Phillips of the DDC, stated that the region will continue to improve as a result of the level of commitment demonstrated by nurses.

“Don’t be deterred by challenges or difficulties, but remember that you chose this profession to give of your best and I urge you to continue that trend as we are certainly proud of the service that you continue to deliver the best always,” she said.

RHO Dr Quincy Jones, congratulating all the nurses, said that he is pleased to be serving in Region Four alongside hardworking, diligent and committed nurses.

“We will have issues, but what I am happy about is that we have the most dedicated, diligent and committed nurses and they continue to make my job easier, as they are so dedicated and unified in taking health care to another level. So let me thank you significantly,” Dr Jones told the gathering.

He assured nurses that his department is seeking to enhance the working conditions of nurses through the purchasing of needed equipment; this has begun with the completed purchase of three near-infrared scanners used to identify veins when drawing blood.
These are to be placed at the DDC, thus making it easier for nurses at the institution to draw blood or insert IVs.

Meanwhile, at the event, he stated that each of the 190 nurses in the region will receive a nurse’s watch among other items, as part of the Health Department’s demonstration of gratitude to them.