I pledge to continue supporting  nursing in every way possible. It is my profound joy and pride to lead the people of Seychelles again this year in the commemoration of international nurses day. The dedicated nurses of Seychelles - nurses who toil indefatigably, day and night, both in the public and the private sector, to promote, protect and restore our health, need and deserve this recognition.

I also acclaim all the Seychellois nurses on training, whether here or overseas. You are the precious seedlings on which the future of health care depends. We count on you to keep the flame of the nursing lamp burning.

The  commemoration of international nurses day by the whole Seychellois nation illustrates the degree to which the people and government of Seychelles value the meticulous care and attention that nurses relentlessly put in prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation.

This week we have cheerfully seen twenty nurses graduating with competency based diplomas and twelve midwives graduating with advanced diploma from NIHSS while ten other nurses have graduated with flying colours, proudly holding Bachelor’s and Masters degrees from foreign universities. I pay homage to them all and to the visionary leadership of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, the two ministries that receive the largest share of the  national investment budget and human development budget, that have collaborated to make their successes possible.

This week we also saw the ministry of health honour its longest-serving nurse-midwives. The recognition of their contribution by the ministry after serving for so long, is a debt that we all owe to them as a nation.

International Nurses Day this year invites nurses, health care leaders and national leaders, like myself, to take cognizance of the economic power of nursing. It was about time. I can say without hesitation that my government is fully conscious of that economic power. We have demonstrated it time and time again - through our decision to work with partners to renovate the National Institute of Health and Social Studies, where nurses are trained and through our decision to build a new hospital on La Digue. It is this same consciousness that pushed our decision to continually upgrade the fleet of ambulances and to mobilize funds to build a brand new Seychelles Hospital and a brand new central medical store. We want to transform the environment where nurses and other health professionals work so that they can deliver the best care possible.

Government will continue to invest in nursing development. We will continue to support nursing training and everything that needs doing to improve nursing. My decision to put a seasoned nurse with more than fifty years of health care experience at the head of the public health sector is also a testimony of my strong belief in the ability of nurses to lead.

I pledge to continue supporting  nursing in every way possible and I wish all nurses a happy nurses day.