By Naomi Parris

~in these worst of times healthcare workers are the best of us
~says Lawrence

THE Ministry of Public Health and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Sunday evening hosted its ‘Standing Together, One Guyana’ virtual concert to celebrate the nurses, doctors and other health care professionals, as they continue to work beyond the call of duty to combat the deadly coronavirus, cause of the disease COVID-19.
The concert, which was broadcasted on Guyana’s National Communications Network, saw Guyanese artistes performing their best hits while encouraging citizens to remain indoors and take the necessary precautions.

Musical renditions apart, the show saw Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, volunteers and healthcare workers sending messages urging Guyanese to take cognisance of the rising number of cases in the country and adhere to the necessary precautions.

Minister Lawrence in brief remarks stated, “We may be apart physically for a while, but we can still come together virtually to enjoy music.”

The minister while thanking healthcare workers added that the ministry and PAHO collaborated for the event, to find an innovative and special way to send their sincerest regards to the nurses, doctors and other frontline workers across the country.

“This virtual concert represents a powerful show of solidarity against a common threat, so to my dear frontline workers, muchus gracias, thank you, in these worst of times you are the best of us,” she stated.

Additionally, the minister stated that it is critical that healthcare workers are celebrated and appreciated, especially during the current crisis, as they are working beyond the call of duty to combat the deadly COVID-19.

“I am proud to state that our healthcare professionals are the smartest, most innovative, most conscientious people I know. They are seizing the opportunity to find innovative solutions to the problems we face and continue to work tirelessly for the recovery of their patients and for the protection of all Guyanese.”

Finally, expressing her gratitude to healthcare workers, the minister stated, “My heartfelt thanks to all of our caregivers for the energy, innovation and patient-focus solutions they bring to this necessary and ongoing task of fighting the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.”

THE YEAR OF NURSES

Earlier this year in February, nurses, midwives and healthcare workers across the country had launched the celebration of ‘The Year of Nurses’ with a march through streets of Georgetown, proudly clad in their uniforms to usher in International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

While the year has presented itself with grave challenges for nurses, the country’s health system, along with its other health workers, has proven to be a resilient one as it continues to battle the COVID-19 epidemic and slow the spread of the deadly virus.