Nurses Week and Int’l Nurses Day Celebrations End at Fr Muller
Mangaluru: The Nurse’s Week was inaugurated on 8th May, 2017 at the Asha Kiran grounds. After invoking the blessings of the Almighty, Rev. Sr Janet D’souza, the Chief Nursing Officer, welcomed the gathering. The inaugural ceremony began with lighting the Nightingale lamp by Rev. Sr Jacintha D’souza, Principal of Father Muller College of Nursing. The Chief Guest, Dr Padmaja Udaykumar unveiled the plaque bearing the theme of the International Nurses Day 2017: Nurses: A Voice to Lead: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The most impressive item of the inaugural was the release of the dove by Rev Fr Richard Coelho, Director of the Institutions. The dove symbolised the message of peace that a nurse spreads through her services to the sick and suffering.
The dignitaries and the nurses released bunch of balloons spreading the joy of the Nurses week throughout the city. This was followed by a message by Dr Padmaja. She appreciated the nurses for their selfless services 24 x 7. She pressed upon the fact that no profession began very early in the morning than that of a nurse and it extended through the late hours of the night. In his Presidential address, the Director, Rev Fr Richard Coelho addressed the nurses as angels from heaven and the inaugural event ended with a vote of thanks proposed by Mrs Malini Noronha, Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Father Muller Medical College Hospital.
Taking into consideration the time factor, the Nursing Service Department organised various literary and art activities like rangoli, collage, wealth out of waste, food without fire, thematic group fancy dress on the theme Nurses at their best and hair dressing. The quiz competition helped the nurses brush their minds on patient safety and hospital infection control measures. It was a tough competition. Lucky games were conducted. These events were organised for the nurses and hospital assistants from 20th April to 6th May 2017 prior to the official Inaugural celebrations. The staff nurses were divided into five teams namely, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Diamond, and Bronze, to facilitate active participations from all quarters. There was an active participation in all activities. A Panel Discussion on the theme of the year was organised on 3rd and 4th of May 2017. It was informative and well appreciated by the participants.
INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY AND FINALE OF THE NURSES WEEK:
The observance of the International Nurses Day 2017 at Father Muller Charitable Institution began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at St. Joseph Chapel thanking God for his showers of blessings on the nurses. Rev. Fr Richard Coelho, the Director was the main celebrant. The nurses offered their gifts during offertory procession and these were distributed among the low income employees of the Institutions.
The felicitation and finale of the Nurses Week was celebrated at the Academy Hall. A prayer dance performed by the nurses filled the ambience with awe. Sr. Janet D’souza, Chief Nursing Officer, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, welcomed the gathering and it was followed by a tribute to two stalwarts for their services to the ailing society, Rev, Fr Augustus Muller, Founder of Father Muller Charitable Institutions and Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing. Their portraits were garlanded by Rev. Fr Fr Richard Coelho, Director of FMMCH, Dr Lavina Noronha, Chief Guest and Director, Ave Maria Palliative Home, Vamanjoor, as a sign of respect. A report of the activities and events of the Nurses Week 2017 was read out by Ms Darryl Aranha, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer.
Rev Sr Emma Joseph was honoured for her selfless services in the Institutions as the Nursing Superintendent. She recalled her days at the Institutions and she stressed that nurses need to make a difference in the lives of people they touch. Dr Lavina Noronha appreciated the services of the nurses and applauded the sacrificial services of the angels of mercy. The newly appointed Principal of College of Nursing, Rev. Sr Jacintha D’souza acknowledged the work of nurses both at the bed side and in the classroom.
Prizes were distributed to the winners of the various competitions organised on the occasion of nurses’ week. The nurses of the Platinum group rejoiced as they triumphantly received the rolling trophy from the Director for securing the highest points in the competitions. Nurses were awarded for their outstanding performance during the year 2016 – 17. Sr Denny D’souza (Best Ward In-charge), Mrs Pramila Monthy Pinto (Best Senior Staff Nurse), Mrs Eliza Monterio (Highest marks in CNE test), Ms Sangeetha Crasta (Best Staff Nurse) and Ms Mini P J (Best Hospital Assistant) were the award winners.
Rev Fr Richard Coelho on the occasion congratulated the nurses and praised them by addressing then nurses as angels of friendship. He called upon the nurses to share love as an antidote to anger, agitation and worry, to carry the virtues of kindness and patience. He further emphasized that Father Muller Institutions stands tall as nursing is the strength of these Institutions. The felicitation programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Rev Sr Ellen Marie, Nursing superintendent and it was followed by a short cultural programme and lunch.
