The Saint Lucia Nurses Association recently held a church service and awards ceremony at the Temple of Faith Pentecostal Church placing focus on how critical nurses are especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

President of the Saint Lucia Nurses Association Alicia Baptiste thanked the nurses for their efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world; the way we live, socialize, work, interact with each other and the way we deliver nursing care,” Ms Baptiste said..” It has raised the visibility of nurses like never before, underlying the fact that nurses are indispensable to health care and the backbone of every health service. Nurses are on the front line of this pandemic separated from their loved ones and praised as heroes, but nurses are humans. They are not angels or super heroes. They have the same needs and rights as everyone else.”

Temple of Faith Pentecostal Church pastor, John Joseph, saluted all the nurses and recognized the invaluable work they continue to do.

“There are things I like about nurses—their immense pride in what they do. They love their work and believe they were made to serve. This is part of what you are aspiring to be. The parallel between nursing and pastoring only begins here. One common role is to give care for others.”

Nurse Alicia Baptiste also made a call to support the courage of the nurses under very challenging situations.

“Over the past year, nurses had some of the most critical roles and responsibilities during the pandemic. They will continue to be at the front line of healthcare in communities, primary healthcare and the acute guest sector. Nurses have been leaders in ensuring that all patients receive patient-centered and high quality care while performing in their roles and responsibilities, nurses has sacrificed much including their physical, mental and emotional health and even their very lives.”

International Nurses Week is celebrated under the theme, “Nurses: a Voice to Lead, a Vision to Future Healthcare.”