By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL

Freeport News Reporter

A special ceremony and float parade on Monday kicked-off a month of activities for the Grand Bahama Health Services Nurses Month, which is dedicated to recognizing the contribution made by nurses to the field of health care.

The month of May was chosen since it coincides with the birthday of an esteemed pioneer in the nursing profession, Nurse Florence Nightingale.

Addressing the nurses during the opening ceremony at the Foster B. Pestaina Centre was nursing service advisor Willamae Stuart, who reminded them they are at the forefront of health care services and continue to make a significant contribution to the health of the world.

"If one could add up all nursing hours delivered globally, I can assure you that this would be enormous and unbelievable," said Stuart.

In celebrating Nurses month, she noted, the International Council of Nurses has asked Nurses to focus on the theme "Deli-vering Quality, Serving Communities : Nurses Lea-ding Primary Health Care."

This theme, she said is both timely and relevant.

"Today the paradigm shift from hospital-based, to community-based health services is well under way, but critical challenges remain. This thrust is not new, especially for nursing, as nurses especially in The Bahamas have always been the leaders in delivering primary health care to communities," she said.

The advisor told those in attendance that research has shown nurses are the largest group of health care providers who are closest to the client.

Their role, she said, is especially important since they are the first link between the client and the health care services, supervising all nursing and other support staff, providing education for varying groups of health care workers, and interpreting the patient's needs.

This unique position nurses are in means that they must respond to the changing health needs, she stressed.

"Nurses must participate fully through leading in and implementing the key strategy to achieving universal access and agitating for better health for the world's people," she said.

"For nurses in The Baha-mas, your focus is on the people of The Bahamas."

It is the responsibility of nurses, she said, to deliver quality health care to the community so that all residents of The Bahamas have "equal and universally accessible health services."

After the opening, the nurses participated in a parade around downtown Freeport, which began at the Foster B. Pestaina centre parking lot and ended at the Rand Memorial Hospital.

Continuing the commemoration of the month, a nursing conference will take place at the Our Lucaya Resort on May 23 and the Grand Bahama celebrations will be capped off on May 24 with the annual Nightingale Ball in the Our Lucaya Ballroom.

The National Nurse Ball will take place in New Providence on May 31.