NURSES’ WEEK OBSERVED
May 12, 2008
This week is also being observed as Nurses’ Week. With over three hundred registered nurses and midwives serving the country, President of the Nurses’ Association, Isabel Bennett, says it is important to recognize the importance of this group of healthcare providers.
This week is also being observed as Nurses’ Week. With over three hundred registered nurses and midwives serving the country, President of the Nurses’ Association, Isabel Bennett, says it is important to recognize the importance of this group of healthcare providers.
Nurse Isabel Bennett, President of Belize Nurses Association
“Nurses are the backbone of the health system in any country that you go. This year we are celebrating under the theme “Delivering quality, serving community – nurses leading primary health care”. The whole concept of primary health care was started some 50 years back worldwide. The focus shifted from primary health care which is basically prevention to curative. An assessment evaluation of health system in the world has given an indication that we have to go back to the basics, primary health care prevention. We do a lot of health education, stop smoking cigarettes, stop the drinking of excessive alcohol, being able to monitor your stress, being able to handle the care of homeless people etcetera. So the thrust now for nurses and we have been doing this for a while now, is to actually cement our focus on having to prevent illness rather than have to reach to that stage of prescribing medication and monitoring the patients when they are sick.”
Bennett told us nurses are involved in several programs that care for the health of Belizeans, such as the immunization campaign but she would also like to see other programs started. Some of these include more nurses in the healthcare system as they face a shortage and also nurses going to schools to assist with health education. In order to make the work of nurses easier in Belize Bennett says they also need some attention in key areas.
“Nurses are the backbone of the health system in any country that you go. This year we are celebrating under the theme “Delivering quality, serving community – nurses leading primary health care”. The whole concept of primary health care was started some 50 years back worldwide. The focus shifted from primary health care which is basically prevention to curative. An assessment evaluation of health system in the world has given an indication that we have to go back to the basics, primary health care prevention. We do a lot of health education, stop smoking cigarettes, stop the drinking of excessive alcohol, being able to monitor your stress, being able to handle the care of homeless people etcetera. So the thrust now for nurses and we have been doing this for a while now, is to actually cement our focus on having to prevent illness rather than have to reach to that stage of prescribing medication and monitoring the patients when they are sick.”
Bennett told us nurses are involved in several programs that care for the health of Belizeans, such as the immunization campaign but she would also like to see other programs started. Some of these include more nurses in the healthcare system as they face a shortage and also nurses going to schools to assist with health education. In order to make the work of nurses easier in Belize Bennett says they also need some attention in key areas.
Nurse Isabel Bennett, President of Belize Nurses Association
“Definitely opportunities for continued education, that has always been our thrust and it will continue to be. In the Caribbean right now a nurse has to have a Bachelor’s Degree to be able to qualify to work in any given institution. Nurses in Belize have done three years of study and now they need the opportunity to be able to be able to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree. In some Caribbean countries you would have completion courses which would run roughly about two years so all the studies that have been done by the registered nurses over the first three years they would be able to pass those over to the continuing programme and be able to certify to get their bachelor’s; at this point in time Belize is not there so that is education. Another thing definitely is to improve the working conditions; you would find some hospitals within the region there are really nice lounge, eating area for our nurses. In a lot of the district branches and health centers that is very lacking; to touch on that as well as, the human aspect as well as the equipment that is needed to carry the work.”
Bennett told us that they are presently working along with the Minister of Health to have these addressed, as well as working on a proposal to have salaries for nurses raised. Bennett said she would want for her colleagues to know that their work is important and should be appreciated.
“Definitely opportunities for continued education, that has always been our thrust and it will continue to be. In the Caribbean right now a nurse has to have a Bachelor’s Degree to be able to qualify to work in any given institution. Nurses in Belize have done three years of study and now they need the opportunity to be able to be able to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree. In some Caribbean countries you would have completion courses which would run roughly about two years so all the studies that have been done by the registered nurses over the first three years they would be able to pass those over to the continuing programme and be able to certify to get their bachelor’s; at this point in time Belize is not there so that is education. Another thing definitely is to improve the working conditions; you would find some hospitals within the region there are really nice lounge, eating area for our nurses. In a lot of the district branches and health centers that is very lacking; to touch on that as well as, the human aspect as well as the equipment that is needed to carry the work.”
Bennett told us that they are presently working along with the Minister of Health to have these addressed, as well as working on a proposal to have salaries for nurses raised. Bennett said she would want for her colleagues to know that their work is important and should be appreciated.
Nurse Isabel Bennett, President of Belize Nurses Association
“I would tell them, say to my colleagues, keep up the hard work. Nurses have always been the pioneer for health, they are the backbone, we are at the forefront. It is not easy, but because of the love and the trust that the society has given to us, we continue to push forward. I would like to say to my colleagues happy nurses week, keep up the good work and become a more active part of your professional organization, it will make a big difference because we can continue to influence policies; not just health policies but political policies, social polities that impact because those policies, once they are established can help to provide us a better workplace to give the care with the little that we have.”
Activities for nurses’ week are being held across the country. Some of these include free testing at health centers, sporting activities, and student nurses awarding their mentors who are nurses. In Punta Gorda a female football marathon will be held in the memory of Nurse Dorothy Avilez and Isabel Palmer, two nurses who were dedicated to their career especially in the immunization program. Today is also being celebrated as International Nurses Day which has been celebrated since 19-65.
“I would tell them, say to my colleagues, keep up the hard work. Nurses have always been the pioneer for health, they are the backbone, we are at the forefront. It is not easy, but because of the love and the trust that the society has given to us, we continue to push forward. I would like to say to my colleagues happy nurses week, keep up the good work and become a more active part of your professional organization, it will make a big difference because we can continue to influence policies; not just health policies but political policies, social polities that impact because those policies, once they are established can help to provide us a better workplace to give the care with the little that we have.”
Activities for nurses’ week are being held across the country. Some of these include free testing at health centers, sporting activities, and student nurses awarding their mentors who are nurses. In Punta Gorda a female football marathon will be held in the memory of Nurse Dorothy Avilez and Isabel Palmer, two nurses who were dedicated to their career especially in the immunization program. Today is also being celebrated as International Nurses Day which has been celebrated since 19-65.
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