240 graduate nurses praised for courage
Thursday September 06, 2007

Fiji's interim Health Minister Dr Jona Senilagakali today commended the 'gallantry' of 240 graduating nurses who were part of his contingency plan during last month's 16-day nurses' strike.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony at the National Gymnasium in Suva today, Dr Senilagakali told the nurses that during the strike, they had "voluntary and gallantry assisted the non-striking and tired nurses to keep the major hospitals in the country running".

"You all had already graduated during the nurses strike and today really formalises the occasion to celebrate your success of having successfully completed the 3-year training course at the Fiji School of Nursing," he said.

"Through dedication and experience so early in your life, I offer all of you and the tutors, the interim Government's deepest appreciation and from me personally.

"What you did remains a great source of satisfaction and a sign of maturity on the part of each one of you."

Dr Senilagakali said without the student nurses involvement in patient care delivery during the strike, "the Ministry of Health would have found it difficult to serve hospital services across Suva and Lautoka".

He reminded the new nurses that their profession in Fiji and that of any of the third world countries "is one of the least rewarding financially".

"It is for this very reason that the Fiji Nurses Association went on nationwide strike from July 24 to August 10 this year."

The new graduates will soon be taking up nursing positions throughout the country to supplement the current shortage of medical staff in Fiji.