"I salute and thank all nurses - past, present and future for the indispensability of their profession in the social fabric of our society."  President Ramkalawan

Every year on the 12th of May, we  remind ourselves of the extent to which that humble, young woman called Florence Nightingale, living in times of war, shifted the paradigm of caregiving and eternally changed the fate of humankind through her selfless devotion to nursing.

In the same way, the birth and devotion of so many Seychellois nurses joined with that of Florence Nightingale are causes for immense celebration. Innumerable Seychellois have lived, worked and died with the same level of impeccable work ethics as Nightingale, hiding their sweat and tears, with a healing smile and a shatterproof  perseverance.

The times have evolved. Neither our society nor the local nursing profession are what they used to be many years ago. The new challenges that we face everyday, from substance abuse to the vagaries of climate change; from domestic violence to child abuse; from the need for greater prevention to the questionable quality of care in institutions at times, require new nursing methods and purpose, adapted to our unique local context. Only by continually questioning what you do as nurses and what you are achieving in the process, can nursing really be responsive to the needs of our time.

Nurses need to nip all their challenges at the bud and make nursing continue to be meaningful for our population.

Indeed, nurses need to continue to be the voices that lead, the voices that care, the voices for change. That is how nursing is going to remain relevant and grow from strength to strength. Sometimes, in order to go further forward, we need to look back. Now, more than ever before, we need the spirit of Nightingale to shine through.  Rather than be left in abeyance, her kind of compassion must flourish in abundance.

In the name of the people of Seychelles and in my own name, I salute and thank all nurses - past, present and future for the indispensability of their profession in the social fabric of our society. I call on all of us to help the nurses to help us better. Too often, too many of us load too much onto them. Let us not break their backs.  I call on all the nurses to stand tall amid adversity and to be patient and resolute in their profession. Above all else, I ask you nurses to be united and to take care of each other.

The Seychellois community and everyone whom you serve are grateful for what you do. As we transform health care, stay strong and stay blessed.

Happy Nurses’ Day