Happy Nurses’ Week!

11-May-2011, 1755

This is a tribute to all the nurses around the globe to celebrate Florence Nightingale as the foundation of the nursing profession – Happy Nurses’ Week to all of you!  Cherish and provide for the patients whom you are taking care of, whatever capacity or setting it might be—the 30 patients of the sub-acute/skilled nursing facility; the 60 geriatric, long-term patients at the Alzheimer’s Unit; the 8 medical-surgical patients at the local community hospital; or the 3 intubated and vented patients at the ICU/CCU.  I share with all of you the joy and pride in all of the accomplishments of Nursing as a profession, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the days beyond...

I have had the opportunity to sit with the Provincial AIDS Committee at the National Capital District of Port Moresby this afternoon, together with USAID and FHI PNG, as guest of honor.  The PAC group systematically presented the triumphs and challenges of the group in promoting the model of Continuum of Prevention-to Care-to-Treatment (CoPCT) as the primary vehicle in addressing HIV/AIDS infection and epidemic in PNG.  Highlighting the achievements of the group just within the metropolis makes for a strong statement for the major funders, such as USAID, to continue, and perhaps increase funding so as to preserve and further enhance capacity and thus greatly improve access to healthcare and reporting.  One of the striking highlights of this committee is having HIV+ people called “friends” join the citywide campaign against HIV epidemic.  I really do believe that the voluntary work of the “friends”—to raise awareness, campaign, and educate about HIV spread and condom use—is a strong and forceful statement that the PNG government supports not only the program but also the patients afflicted with the virus.  Truth be told, negative and ill feelings are flagrantly abundant towards HIV+ individuals.  Therefore, tremendous amount of work still need to be done to build tolerance and acceptance of people living with HIV here.  This is where the NGOs like Family Health International come in since their areas of expertise, aside from strategically building the foundation of HIV awareness and education, is to formulate curriculum for sensitivity training and empowerment.  I am already making plans to help out with education and training but not sure yet as to what areas—sensitivity, change theory, empowerment, therapeutic communications (listen up nursing students and nurses, Nursing theory really does pay off!!!), or maybe basic A&P, lab, or basic physical assessment skills and techniques.