The year 2010 has been declared International Year of The Nurse and in recognition of this, a week of activities has been planned from Sunday, May 9 to Saturday, May 15.
Under the theme: "Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Care for The Chronically Ill", given by the International Council for Nurses, it will be highlighted that chronic illnesses affect several persons worldwide, with heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes ranking among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. This occurs in both developed and developing countries.
The theme further recognises that nurses are at the forefront of health care delivery at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.?? With responsibility for 80 per cent of health care delivery at the primary level and 60 per cent at the secondary level, nurses in Barbados see it as fitting that they should come together to stem this pandemic and increase the quality of life for citizens.
Activities for Nurses Week will begin with a church service at the Halls Road, Nazarene Church, Halls Road, St. Michael on Sunday, May 9, starting at 9:00 a.m.?? The following day, Monday, May 10, there will be a debate in the Auditorium of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on the topic: "Nurses Are the Leaders in The Delivery of Care For The Chronically Ill".??
A combined group of nurses from the polyclinics, geriatric hospitals and Psychiatric Hospital and the QEH will address the topic.
Tuesday, May 11, will be Open Day at health institutions from 10:00 a.m. The following day, Wednesday, May 12, is recognised as International Nurses’ Day and there will be a seminar at the Accra Beach Hotel and Resort on the topic: "The Fight to Combat Chronic Diseases" from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.?? During this session, Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of the West Indies, Dr. Damian Cohall, will make a presentation on "Cardiovascular Diseases – The Transatlantic Journey".
Sports Day will be held on Thursday, May 13, at the QEH’s Pavilion from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The following day, Friday, May 14, there will be a health extravaganza at Jubilee Gardens, Bridgetown. It will be held under the theme "We Are Here To Care – Healthy People, Healthy Nation" from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Nurses Week will culminate on Saturday, May 15, with an Awards Ceremony at The Harcourt Lewis Auditorium, Belmont Road, St. Michael, from 5:45 p.m.