Chennai: Nurses are on the frontline working in high risk environment treating coronavirus infected patients. To uplift their spirits, as part of International Nurses Day (12 May), Global Nurses Association organised has online competitions which have received much response.
Secretary of the association, A Raj says, “Each year the celebrations are held in the hospitals. This year due to the pandemic we decided to have quizzes, essay writing, poetry writing and speaking and drawing competitions online. The themes for the year is ‘Royal salute to our great nursing heroes’. Nurses, nursing students, lab technicians and college principals took part in the events.”
More importantly, it happens to be the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale, in whose memory the day is celebrated. The poetry, drawings and essay were based on themes such as nurses during Covid-19 pandemic and the meaning of nursing.
Several participants have sent videos of them performing spoken word poetry, and as many as 490 members of the association took part in the competitions. Even as many others declined to take part in such celebrations in honour of the lives lost, Raj said it was important to hold the event and record this year to remember in future the unprecedented turn of events and the role of nurses during the crisis time. He said that certificates and cash awards would be sent to the winners online tomorrow.
Meanwhile, The Tamilnadu Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) Nurses Empowerment Association has requested the Chief Minister to appoint 2570 nurses recruited for Covid -19 pandemic management under regular posts instead of temporary posts.
A press release said, “Recently, 530 doctors, 2323 nurses, 1508 lab technicians and 215 health inspectors were appointed for the pandemic management. In addition to this, the government has announced to recruit 2570 nurses on contract basis for six months. Such initiatives taken will ensure appropriate management of Covid-19. The nurses are volunteering despite the high risk of contracting the disease due to direct exposure. The nobel services rendered by nurses is highly essential for the society and it is a humble request to appoint the nurses under regular/permanent posts considering their selfless compassion in their mission of serving the needy.”