Role of nurses acknowledged

By Seia Soloi 18 May 2017, 12:00AM

Every year on the second Sunday of May, Samoa celebrates International Nurses Day. This year was no exception. 

During a ceremony held at the Methodist Church, Matafele, last weekend, nurses from throughout the country gathered to celebrate their day.

The commemoration honours the important role of Nurses in the community.

It also celebrated the lives of the old members of the Association, founding members, remembering with much gratitude one of the most notable leaders of Nursing community, Florence Nightingale.

She is the mother of modern nursing who was nicknamed the “Lady with the Lamp” because of her sacrificial work at the Crimean War and wherever she was called to work.

This year’s celebration took on new significance with the Samoa Nurses Association (S.N.A) celebrating its 100 years of service to Samoa.

A celebration is to be expected at the end of the year, November, where about four hundred members of the Association will come together.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi paid tribute to the work of nurses in Samoa.

 “As nurses, your service is commendable,” he said. 

“Your collective work had already impacted on achieving the sustainable development goals. Your work had already started, but there is much more that we can contribute.

 “For the nurses of Samoa the theme for this year, calls for a collective effort to raise the standard and quality of your service. 

“Your calling as a nurse for this year is to strengthen your commitment and dedication to your service. 

“Since S.D.G’S were adopted by the United Nation in 2015 to replace the Millennium Goals its main idea was to address the inequalities between nations and the third Sustainable Development Goals specifically addresses Health which now celebrates the importance of Nurses and its roles.

The President of Samoa Nurses Association, Taulapapa Fa’amanatu Nielson, said this year’s event is celebrating the lives of those who first established the Association and in ways of improving the service of Nurses in Samoa.

“At first it was very hard but we overcame it because for those who first formed up the Association they were strong women and they faced the difficulties that they first came with,” she said. 

“We are looking forward to celebrating 100 years of service.

“We are just thankful for all these years because we know we have come a very long way.”

There are more than four hundred registered nurses under the Samoa Nurses Association.

Samoa is among 138 countries, which celebrated the International Nurses Day.

By Seia Soloi 18 May 2017, 12:00AM

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