By Shirley Thomas
THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, last Thursday, celebrated International Nurses’ Day with a Luncheon and Awards Ceremony for nurses who served with distinction and above normal call of duty over the years.

The function, which was held at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, saw an all-female batch of 20 nurses being honoured in various categories from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and health centres drawn from around coastal Guyana.
There were kudos for the nurses from Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier George Lewis; member of the Board of Directors, Dr. Holly Alexander; Deputy CEO, Ms. Elizabeth Gonsalves; Principal of the GPHC School of Nursing, Ms. Cleopatra Barkoy; Assistant Director of Nursing Services, Celeste Gordan; and Ms. Kesaundra Alves.

Among the words of encouragement and appreciation given to the nurses was the importance of recognising and celebrating nurses as leaders in the response to health for all. They were acknowledged as strong leaders with remarkable qualities. They were also recognised as persons who play a pivotal role in the delivery of healthcare in Guyana, and deserve due recognition.

Urging the nurses to keep-up the good job, the stakeholders commended them and reminded that a kind word from a nurse brings healing to a sick person.
Meanwhile, Barcoy noted the stark increase in illness and deaths due to illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and said that plans are in-train to significantly reduce them by 2030. Noting the challenges associated with reducing NCDs, she was of the view that nurses can do more to address these challenges, since they teach prevention.

Board member, Dr. Holly Alexander, said she felt honoured to be able to lend support to the nurses on such an auspicious occasion and those who were and are the backbone of the nursing profession in Guyana. She urged the nurses to pay respect to the profession, noting that inherent in nursing, is a respect for human lives.

Ironically, Dr. Alexander observed that the nursing profession in Guyana has taken a nose dive. “But [over time] we’re seeing a resurgence of the profession,” she said, adding that a tremendous amount of knowledge and diverse skills are being added to the profession.
Commending the front-line staff of the GPHC for the service they deliver, Dr. Alexander also had kudos for the nursing profession for their role in bringing new lives into the world, adding that nurses and doctors are respected for the quality of service they deliver.

“Nurses are the hospitality of the Hospital,” she concluded.
But even as praises reverberated across the reception hall for nurses in the profession, a clarion call resounded for them to have respect for the rules of the profession, particularly when it comes to confidentiality.