PM Terrance Drew, Denzil Douglas wish International Nurse Day

Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew and Minister of Foreign Affairs of St Kitts and Nevis Denzil Douglas extended warm wishes to the nurses on the occasion of International Nurse Day. 

PM Terrance Drew, Denzil Douglas wish International Nurse Day
PM Terrance Drew, Denzil Douglas wish International Nurse Day

St Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew and Minister of Foreign Affairs of St Kitts and Nevis Denzil Douglas extended warm wishes to the nurses on the occasion of International Nurse Day. 

While extending greetings, PM Drew lauded nurses of St Kitts and Nevis and dropped an appreciation note. He stated that nurses in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis account for most of the technical human resources in the public health sector in their application of evidence-informed health principles to protect the health and well-being of patients and the public at large.

Emphasizing the significance of the Principal Nursing Officer, Prime Minister Terrance Drew said that the appointment of the Principal Nursing Officer is consistent with the Government’s commitment to develop and implement the strategic priorities and policy framework necessary to promote the development of a highly skilled and professional workforce.

PM Drew also highlighted significant steps taken by the Government of St Kitts and Nevis in delivering Leadership Training to Nurse Managers from both St Kitts and Nevis over the last few months.

A total of eight Nurses have applied for enrolment in speciality training in Jamaica and Saint Lucia commencing September 2023 in areas such as Critical Care/Intensive Care, Nephrology (with Dialysis component), Operating Room Technique, Public Health, Nursing Administration and Education, and we are currently exploring more opportunities for training in Psychiatry, Accident and Emergency and Oncology.

“We remain committed to the improvement and advancement of our nurses within the Federation,” said the prime minister. 

Along with that, Denzil Douglas also wrote an appreciation note for nurses of St Kitts and Nevis and stated that nurses around the world have been a mighty force in caring for patients with all conditions and, in most recent times, Covid-19. 

“Without their sturdy commitment, dedicated caring and life-risking ethics, our international healthcare infrastructure would have fallen apart,” said the minister. 

As a medical doctor, he extended gratitude that here in their beloved Federation, nurses have committed themselves to taking care of patients at home, in the hospitals, at their clinics and in the Communities. They pause to say how thankful they are for the incredible sacrifices they continue to make.

“Our gratitude shows up in numerous testimonies. Some of us will confess that Nurses have brought back countless patients from the brink of death. Others will say that Nurses have helped our family members face the inevitable, and still others will declare that Nurses have educated us, to embrace wellness practices through the wisdom of balancing a healthy diet, rest and exercise,”Denzil Douglas added. 

The theme for this year’s International Nursing Day is: “Our Nurses. Our Future.”

Elaborating on the theme, Denzil Douglas said that it captures the essence and importance of nursing now and in the future. In SKN, the Nurses are leading the future of healthcare by showing up every night and day, giving their diverse talents in the most skilful manner, re-skilling themselves with the use of new technologies, and working with doctors and other healthcare providers, to ease the pain, and facilitate the healing of our sick and suffering.

“To every Nurse who taught us never to surrender our faith or peace of mind to diseases, we salute you. This is YOUR day! We shower you with respect, and we give each of you our highest blessings and longest praise, “Denzil Douglas said.Â