Nurses féted for a week

WESTERN BUREAU:

Nurses of the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, ditched their white uniforms for stylish ensembles at their first fashion show and awards ceremony on the lawns of the hospital last July 23.

The event was punctuated with laughter, courtesy of MC Marcelle Henry-Gladson, as the nurses stepped on to the stage to sing, dance, and strut across the platform in vintage, sportswear, casual clothes, and church garb.

There were peals of laughter as each time a nurse's name was announced as the recipient of an all-inclusive hotel day pass, the winner would sprint across the lawn, shrieking with delight at the prospect of relaxing at one of Hanover's finest properties.

The event was the last of several held to celebrate Nurses' Week which was commemorated under the theme: 'Nurses: A force for change - Leading health systems resilience'. Other activities for the week in Hanover included a nurses' symposium, which was held on Monday, a food exposition on Tuesday, a quiz competition on Wednesday, and Sports Day on Thursday.

Jillian Mason Quarrie, director of nursing services at the hospital, said the activities were conceptualised by the nurses, and attracted the support of the Hanover Health Services' administrative staff, the maintenance, security, and the team of porters, and others to whom certificates, trophies, and gifts were presented.

"Nationally, there is a week of activities, but as we are at the farthest end of the island, it's kind of difficult for us to participate in the national activities, and so the nurses at the Noel Holmes Hospital initiated their own Nurses Week activities," Mason Quarrie told Flair.

Four 'Director of Nursing Services' awards were also presented to nurses: Semoal Mattherson for punctuality; Yvonne Hamilton for commitment; Patrice Beckford-Rowe for fostering team spirit; and Nicolesia Hunt-McGregor for service to the nursing profession.

Sponsors of the week's activities were Couples Swept Away, Hedonism II, Sandals Negril, Round Hill, Jamaica Public Service Company, NestlÈ Jamaica, Scotiabank, Trinity Pharmacy, Family Care Pharmacy, Cornwall Medical and Dental Supplies, among others.