Allwood-Anderson

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) kicked of its week-long celebration to highlight the contributions of its members to the health care sector, with a church service at the Fellowship Tabernacle Church in Mandeville on Sunday .

President of the NAJ, Edith Allwood-Anderson, commended her fellow nurses for what she termed their "positive impact" on those they serve.

She hailed the nurses as "truly the voice of the vulnerable in our society", which include children, women, poor people, the elderly and those affected by HIV.

Allwood-Anderson told the more than 100 nurses present they could be justifiably proud of their contribution to the nation's health sector.

Hard work, innovation

Minister of Health, Rudyard Spencer, was represented by Faye Bell , chairman of the board of the Mandeville Regional Hospital, who read his message.

Minister Spencer commended the nurses for their "hard work and innovation" and said the nation would be depending on them to continue to lead the charge against the surge in non-communicable diseases.

Nurses Week will culminate with an award ceremony on July 19 to name the national nurse and nursing student of the year. This year's theme is, "Nurses Leading Primary Health Care; Delivering Quality, Serving Communities"