Nurses, other healthcare workers and members of the public in Tobago engaged in heartfelt urgent discussions in the first stop of the Nursing Now Trinidad and Tobago Campaign. On Wednesday 10th April 2019, at the Anne Mitchell-Gift Auditorium Scarborough Library speakers addressed areas of concern, shortfalls and required steps to implement change. The meeting was chaired by Tobago Branch Chairwoman Mrs. Karen Frank. The first local speaker TTRNA President Mr. Idi Stuart who highlighted the importance of the campaign and the steps needed to be taken to ensure QUALITY HEALTHCARE IS AVAIABLE FOR ALL OF THE POPULATION of Trinidad and Tobago. He was followed by this country’s highest nursing officer, Ms. Betty-Ann Pilgrim the National Nursing Advisor to the minister of health. Ms. Pilgrim highlighted the ongoing training for nursing personnel, the need for new programmes and the projected addition to nursing specialties currently existing. She expounded on the importance of continuing education for all nursing personnel and gave her support for the Nursing Now Campaign. As a nurse leader who have worked in the United Kingdom for 20 years, before returning home, Ms. Pilgrim urged nurses to keep current and implement changes where necessary to ensure that patient centered care is given. Joining the Campaign via SKYPE conference call was Ms Vera Guseva Workers Activities Specialist, Decent Work Terms Office for the Caribbean, International Labour Organization (ILO) representative who outlined the ILO’s purpose and importance of ratifying the Nursing Personnel Convention # 149 in Trinidad and Tobago. Unavoidably absent was Dr. Kam Mung Consultant the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) representative, who was not in the country. All speakers are carded to present at each stop of the campaign and there will be fully interactive question and answer segments.
This groundbreaking initiative is anticipated to catapult much needed change in the country’s health landscape. Recognizing successive government’s failure to address ills within the Nursing Sector TTRNA calls on Nursing personnel, health workers and members of the public to be informed and speak out against, unsafe staffing practices which is known to lead to increased mortality and morbidity.
Nursing Now, a three-year global campaign (2018-2020), aims to improve health by raising the profile and status of nursing worldwide. Run in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses, Nursing Now seeks to empower nurses to take their place at the heart of tackling 21st Century health challenges and maximize their contribution to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
