By Grace Q Bryant
The Liberian Nurses Association, through the Ministry of Health, has celebrated International Nurses Day with calls for the National Government to increase investment in the sector.
The significance of this day is to recognize nurses and their efforts in providing Healthcare deliveries; May 12 was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered the pioneer of modern nursing.
The Liberian Nurses Association on Monday, May 13, 2024, celebrated International Nurses Day under the Theme: “Our Nurses, Our Future. The Economic Power of Care”, and was held at the Harvest Intercontinental Church in Congo Town.
The official ceremony began with a parade starting from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center on 20th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia to the Harvest Intercontinental Church in Congo Town, Monrovia, closing with an indoor Program.
Speaking during the celebration, the keynote speaker reminded nurses across the country on their important role and worth in society.
Shelly Wright Thompson said the significance of the day is to recognize nurses and their efforts in providing healthcare deliveries, and showcasing how important nurses are even in an unstable state.
Thompson, however, called on national and international partners to elevate the nursing profession, something she said, if done, can capitalize transformative improvement in Healthcare Delivery, Economic Development, Peace, and Social well-being.
She described nurses as the heartbeat of all healthcare systems and frontline warriors, who are tirelessly working day and night and often sacrificing their personal well-being to ensure the well-being of others.
The keynote speaker of the International Nurses Day Celebration then reminded nurses to recognize the economic significance of their worth, adding that nurses are the economic engine driving growth and prosperity and not just care givers.
The senior nurse further noted that the International Council of Nurses, with support from World Health Organization (WHO), is advocating for more investment in the nurses work force of the country.
Shelly Wright Thompson stressed that if such investment is done, it will increase a better patient outcome and improve the well-being of nurses as well, thus calling on government, as well as partnering institutions and stakeholders, to speedily intervene in ensuring that the profession is well taken care of.
She emphasized on such investment result that could increase good health in society, while considering to increase nurses’ salaries to empower more nurses in the country.
