They were passionate and they sounded sincere in their presentations but that was not enough to secure victory for the Dominica Nurses Association (DNA) when they debated the Dominica State College (DSC) on Saturday May 12 at the DPSU building in Roseau.
The topic was: “Nurses who have gained training and experience in the Dominica health sector should not migrate post natural disaster.”
The proposing DSC team won by a margin of 23 points (295 – 272) having effectively argued that while nurses had the right to migrate if they wished, such a move was inappropriate immediately after a disaster because the essential service that the nurses provide becomes even more critical at that time.
“De nurses not there, de plane , de plane, it going to crash,” Asworth Norris who was awarded Best Speaker on the DSC team, exclaimed, borrowing from the lyrics of a popular Dominican calypso to emphasize the potential impact of nurse migration on health care delivery after a disaster.
It was the judges’ opinion, as expressed by the chief judge, that while the DNA team did a thorough job of outlining the negative working conditions such as inadequate resources, low salaries and work place bullying which they say cause nurses to migrate, they did not adequately address the “post-disaster” aspect of the topic.
The DSC debaters were Ellen Commodore, Ashford Morris and Oghechie Ejingerie. The DNA team consisted of Benika Benjamin who was adjudged the best speaker on her team as well as Athenia Ambo and Yolanda Rodney-Jno Baptiste.
Meanwhile, Rosie Felix, president of the Dominica Nurses Association (DNA) which organized the debate, told DNO in an interview afterwards, that the activity had achieved its objectives.
“I got my nurses.. I got to expose them to public speaking and you know, debating, you know, a relevant topic and as I said earlier, sensitizing the public on why nurses migrate and remind us too of our calling to serve,” Felix stated. “Though we agree for a nurse it’s a calling, yes, but for the service industry, for the government, it’s not a calling so they have to, you know, put something in place to retain nurses.”
The debate formed part of activities organized by the DNA for International Nurses Day which was observed in Dominica and the rest of the world on May 12.
Information from the Ministry of Health reveals that about 14 nurses left Dominica following the passage of Hurricane Maria last September, sparking concerns that this might have an effect on health delivery on the island.
Cudose to the DSC which is a signal that our young people are indeed thinking about the future of our country which they will one day be responsible to govern. Having said so i question their silence on the issues of political debate and other issues which pertain to the governance of our country. Their voices are never heard on the local radio stations; is it that they have become so naive about the ills which affect their future or are they disappointed in the level of discus by the adults and are just not interested. Any way we put it you are part of the economic; political and developmental landscape don’t be left out or the future will not be kind to you.
The word is “kudos”. However you make interesting points. One thing I have observed among the youth is that they complain about people in society talking too much. “Mister talking too much”, is a refrain I’ve heard many times.
I am concerned that on the other hand, young people don’t talk enough! It is very telling by their lack in expressing themselves coherently on even the simplest discussions.
Our youth display a shocking ignorance on matters of national interest. It cannot be that we have raised a nation of insular young ones whose only concern is how much data they’ve got on their phones and updating their phones playlist!