Yesterday marked another observation of International Nurses Day, an occasion that celebrated the contribution of a most vital component in every state’s health system, whether private or state.

This particular anniversary is being hailed at the most challenging period of modern man’s existence, against the background of the raging Coronavirus pandemic, Covid-19, which threatens the physical survival of humanity, by the tens of thousands of lives that been affected.

Celebrated since 1965, and on the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the ‘’Lady with Lamp’’, said to be the founder of modern nursing, it is most fitting that this year’s observances are occasioned under the theme: A voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health. Of course, the latter function is what being a nurse is all about, since this crucial frontline category of health care, is tasked with this most challenging of medical care functions which speaks to nursing the sick back to good health.

Such a sacred undertaking, for which there can be no price tag in terms of emoluments that can reward such selfless duty, often carried out beyond the call of duty, though usually lauded at this time in a more relaxed environment, is at the moment greatly overshadowed by the foreboding challenge of a killer virus, against which nurses are at the frontline in their role of combatting Covid-19, throughout the globe. And they have been bearing the brunt of being frontline care health workers, with dozens having to perform daily duties in a highly infected environment without basic personal protection equipment. Dozens have lost their lives, with many others becoming mentally affected, inclusive of cases of suicides. The National Health Service of Britain is a good example of the number of nurses that have been dying, because of being affected by the fatal Covid-19 virus pandemic.

There have also been reported instances of citizens, spitting and coughing at health care workers, inclusive of nurses; and landlords asking them to vacate their rented apartments.

Such discrimination, though in other forms such as nurses and health care workers being refused public and even, private transportation; and being asked to leave stores and supermarkets, have been manifest in Guyana.

Such cruelty and inconsiderately discriminative behaviour have been condemned, and must continue to be so, against this essential group of health workers, whose daily well- being, and that of their families, continues to be at risk, more than any other professional employment group.

Let us be mindful of this fact: That nurses will continue to be the pivot around which our health system functions, for no medical institution, public or otherwise can ever hope to provide suitable health care, without their invaluable daily service. They are the legs, and shoulders especially upon which the entire national health system stands, anywhere in the world.

Finally, we are reminded by the wise words of President David Granger, which although is about all our health care workers, is here repeated with the nation’s nurses in mind: ‘I ask you…to think tenderly of our public health professionals and service providers; that is to say, our doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and all other supporting staff, medical and non-medical, who are providing the required care for those in distress: public health practitioners are on the frontline of protecting those stricken by the disease; they have been working tirelessly, through this very difficult situation , to provide quality healthcare to those who have been infected and afflicted…’