Nurses get health updates

Nurses in Dominica on Thursday took part in a Nurses Education Day/ Maternal and Child Health Symposium as part of 2013 Nurses Week celebrations.

The one-day symposium was facilitated by various medical practitioners and focused on a number of aspects of health.

Addressing the forum Principal Nursing Officer, Caesarina Ferroll, said “our consistent and excellent immunization coverage record and low maternal mortality are indicators of the hard work and commitment of the staff. Nurses are particularly well placed and often are the most innovative in reaching under served, disadvantaged and sometimes difficult and resistant population.”

She noted that there is no room for complacency, indifference or a “know it all” attitude in health care and health care providers must be prepared to respond to emerging challenges, health threats, mobility and mortality patterns and other demands of the health care environment.

“We must keep abreast with new knowledge, technology and practice therefore the importance of continuous training and in-service education cannot be over emphasised. It is on this basis that this educational forum was organised, the objective being to strengthen the knowledge base of our nursing professionals engaged in maternal and child health care,” she pointed out.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Helen Royer, encouraged the nurses to take pride in child health care and told them that although significant progress has been made there is still room for improvement.

“We have made good progress in some areas but we have new challenges to surmount. We now have to address issues related to promoting health and wellness, improving clinical outcomes and the quality of life,” Royer pointed out.

Presentations was made on Labour and Delivery, Family Planning, Maternal/Infant Mortality/Morbidity status for Dominica-A focus on Ante Natal Management by the Midwife, HIV/AIDS: Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Program, Prematurity, and Neonatal Sepsis.