BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
DR. Paul Popora Bosawai, Minister of Health and Medical Services, emphasized the need for further improvement in health services by the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT).
Minister Bosawai made the statement during his keynote address at this year’s International Nurses Day, held on May 12 at the St. Barnabas Cathedral Hall in Honiara.
“Under the 2024 International Nurses Day theme: Our Nurses, Our Future. With the Economic Power of Care, we are encouraged to be aware and informed about the return on investment that adequate funding in nursing can provide, especially in financially turbulent times such as these.
“Under the new Government of Unity and Transformation and as your new Minister of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), we see the need to further improve health services building on current good practices and exploring new opportunities to further progress and make meaningful and real impact in delivering health services.
“A challenge to you my good nurses of Solomon Islands is that while government and our development partners are investing in the nursing profession, I call on nurse leaders and registered nurses to continue to be like the Florence Nightingale, committing yourself to this profession and serve our people in the name of the nursing profession.
“Situations can be improved as we try to strive to deliver improved health service delivery to our people of this happy isles. Let me again remind all my nurses and nurse midwives gathered here and around the country that Florence Nightingale the founder of modern nursing underwent the first several experiences that she believed were calls from God, prompting a strong desire to devote her life to the service of others.
“The Nursing profession is a Godly ministry and as late Florence felt that nursing is a calling, I believe all of you who have joined the profession equally feels the same; that you are called to be a nurse and not merely recruited to be one,’’ Dr Bosawai expressed.
Bosawai later congratulated nurses in Solomon Islands on 2024 International Nurses Day, celebrating Florence Nightingale’s birth in 1820. Despite not dreaming of becoming a nurse, he believed her destiny was to do God’s work.
He said that the life and journey of Florence Nightingale and the principles she upheld to meticulously deliver and execute her plans, is one that still resonates with the nursing profession globally as well as here in Solomon Islands.
“So today in 2024, we gather to remember this great woman on the 204th anniversary of her work and her service, dedication and commitment to the nursing profession. In Solomon Islands and as of January 2024, there are 1,440 nurses, making 61% of the total workforce of the health sector, thus comprise the nation’s largest healthcare profession,” Hon. Bosawai said.
He said that the nursing was introduced in Solomon Islands in the 1800’s when missionaries came with the word of God and complemented the service with administration of medicines and offering advises on healthy living.
“Under this year’s International Nurses Day theme: Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care, we are encouraged to be aware and informed about the return on investment that adequate funding in nursing can provide, especially in financially turbulent times such as these,’’ Dr Bosawai said.
He added that such calling requires the values of love, compassion, courage and devotion.
“Take a small piece of Florence’s tenacity to always put yourselves last and the patient first, and to work as a team to positively impact those who have entrusted us to provide care.
“While we celebrate the life of Florence Nightingale over 200 years ago, let us not forget that we have had countless Florence Nightingales that have long gone and have left us dedicating their services to this noble profession, and countless Florence Nightingales gathered here in our midst and out in the provinces who continue to work selflessly,’’ the MHMS Minister said.
