Dear Editor,
That day was really fine and fitting to host the highest political echelon of the country. That day was also colourful and fitting to be fervently buried in the bosom of the music and dancing; tools used to entice the entire nursing assembly then.
The celebration took its momentum to the enjoyment and temporary satisfaction of the nurses because the day was International Nurses’ Day and should be celebrated with pride and genuine happiness by truly happy nurses. We hope the celebration that had taken place to honour their founder and the uttered exemplary performance was not done and said in vain.
It is obvious that nurses in this country are systematically and departmentally tortured by the very Department and Organisation that should be protecting them every step of the way. Their right to efficiently and proficiently practice has been hampered by unfavourable decisions made by non-other than their employing Ministry Administration. This is indicated by nurse’s performance now, resulting to less emphasis on nursing care.
Nurses were told that they were worthless and good for nothing; they were told that their existence is nothing. They were told that having doctors is enough to run the country’s health system and therefore they are not needed.
Nurses’ current conditions of service were published in the public media by an office that should be upholding the secrecy and the sensitivity of such information. Application of the principles of democracy has its limitations and should confine within supreme law of the country. You will not compare Nurses’ Conditions of Service with any other workers within the government, except for doctors, whose nature of work and work environment are unquestionably similar.
Nurses’ avenue to raise dissatisfaction over issues of their interest and concerns was dismantled. Nurses Association was crippled up to this day and will never be able walk the same again. Twelve of their nurses with personal grudge were personally targeted and unlawfully suspended.
The Nurses’ Day theme” our nurses our future”, indicates that by encouraging people to take up the profession of nursing, they invest in health care and the future itself. Focusing on the theme was not found in the speeches from both the government and the health ministry during the Nurses’ Day. That reflects what they were regarded and labelled as, sad to say.
Nurses are now treated as second-class employees; the high regard that should be given to them was dumped in the pit. Their recognition and existence are spiralling to a dimension that one day the name” NURSE” will be non-existent in the Health Ministry Hierarchy.
Nurses during that day were shown no remorse from both the Ministry and the Government after their entire Union was smashed – twelve of their nurse were belted and dissention was experienced throughout a working period, even up until today.
If the RDP is to be successful, Nurses must be given back their place in the ministry business hierarchy and their condition of service improved.
Thank you.
Sandra Ramo
White River, East Honiara
