Nurses seize chance to change perceptions

By Vaelei Von Dincklage 17 February 2020, 12:00PM

Local nurses have a full program this year to mark the Year of Nurses and Midwives and are hoping their planned activities will change public perception of the nursing profession.

Public Sector Nurses and Midwives Association, June Scanlan Lui, said the objective of their 2020 calendar of events is to develop quality nursing. 

"The 2020 calendar of events and activities aims to highlight the dire need for investment [in] improving, developing, and enabling quality nursing and midwifery contributions,” she said. 

Other than being the President of the Association, Mrs Lui is also a registered nurse and has worked for 38 years.

Mrs Lui said the group running the program of activities met this week and will mark the year by celebrating the work of local nurses and midwives through the promotion of nurses’ positive contributions as well as mobilising support for the profession. 

"[We want to] mobilise associations, stakeholders and women to become advocates for the professions in support of nurses and midwives and most especially to unite nurses and midwives and women towards a common goal of gender equality," she said.

Some of the nurses and midwives, who were present at the Association's meeting last Thursday, say that the work of nurses and midwives has been overlooked due to the measles crisis. 

People do not see it as an important profession, Mrs. Lui added, but they should think otherwise.

"Being a nurse and a midwife is a calling so for us we have to do our job well. For a nurse/midwife the most important quality or value he or she must have is love. We need to serve our people with love and of course our facial expression as well," she said smiling. "This year’s celebration was declared by the World Health Organisation at the 72nd World Health Assembly held in Geneva on the 24th May 2019."

Mrs Lui said said the celebration of the Year of Nurses and Midwives by Samoa's Public Sector Nurses and Midwives Association is supported by the International Council of Nurses and the International Congress of Midwives. 

The 2020 nursing year will culminate with a review and a conference for all nurses across Samoa in both the public and private sectors.

By Vaelei Von Dincklage 17 February 2020, 12:00PM

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