President of the Guyana Nursing Association (GNA), Cleopatra Barkoye, is inviting the public to take part in a one-time event to recognise the achievements of nurses in Guyana.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) in a release yesterday quoted the Association’s president as saying, “On 12 May, we are asking the ministry and other organisations and agencies to celebrate with us at 5:00pm by doing one of the following: either sounding a siren, blowing a vehicle horn, ringing of a bell or clapping of hands.”
These sounds are to be made for one minute sending a clear signal that “we stand with nurses,” Barkoye explained.
She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a pause on major celebrations worldwide, one of these being the observation of the International Day of the Nurse on May 12.
The GNA President suggested that organisations can distribute ribbons to staff and visitors and also hoist white flags on buildings. Private homes and vehicles can also fly a white flag or cloth showing solidarity with nurses.
These displays of support, Barkoye informed, are all in keeping with the World Health Assembly’s recognition of nurses, “Because we recognise that nurses are always on the frontline giving care and because of this we can achieve universal health coverage.”
May 12, 2020, is also the 200th birth anniversary of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, known as the “The Lady with the Lamp”.
