VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Mont Buxton district authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, organised a nurses’ conference at the ministry’s headquarters on Saturday to commemorate International Nurses Day, which is celebrated on May 12 each year.
The conference was an opportunity to honour and recognise the contribution of nurses, who form the backbone of the healthcare system, and to provide them with a platform to voice their job-related concerns. A number of retired nurses from the district were presented with tokens for their years of commitment and service in the health sector: Marise Vidot, Jacynthe Joseph, Julian Kilindo and Irine Anacoura. The district administrator, Antoinette Vallentin, commended the healthcare professionals for their dedication and commitment to their jobs, which she described as often challenging and stressful.
During a panel session, the nurses raised several concerns to a panel from the Ministry of Health. Among the issues discussed were access to childcare for single healthcare professionals, the government’s plans to adequately take care of Seychelles’ ageing population, and strategies to attract more young people into the profession. Speakers stressed the need for the country to think much more about the contribution of nurses, especially amid various social issues, and pledged the government’s continued support for the profession, including more resources for the hospital and measures to combat drug trafficking, which was identified as the root of many health problems.
