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These initiatives will equip our nursing professionals with the skills necessary to meet present and future challenges and enhance the quality of care that our healthcare system provides
As we come together on the 12th of May every year, to reflect on the significance of International Nurses Day, this year I want to express my profound appreciation for the dedication and compassion that the hundreds of male and female, Seychellois and foreign, working and retired, nurses in Seychelles bring to the nursing profession. You continue to be the bedrock of our healthcare system, ensuring that every Seychellois receives care marked by skill, empathy, and unwavering commitment. Today, I salute not only the vital roles you perform but also the profound impact you have on the lives of those you serve.
Recalling the recent commemoration of the International Day of Midwives on the 5th May, I also salute the midwives and those playing dual roles of nurses and midwives. Your dual commitment exemplifies the heart of nursing and midwifery, guiding families through the important journey of life, right from childbirth. The expertise and compassion you deliver during these critical moments are invaluable, providing reassurance and support when it is needed most.
I cannot fail to recognize the contribution of our male nurses. Your presence challenges stereotypes and enriches the nursing profession, highlighting the importance of diversity in caregiving. Your dedication and unique perspectives enhance the care we provide, and I commend you for your important role within our teams. We need more nurses, both male and female.
To our nurses in the public hospitals, health centres, care homes and in the offices doing research, prevention. health promotion or health care management, your tireless efforts, in often demanding environments, do not go unnoticed. Working long hours and navigating significant challenges, you consistently place your patients’ needs at the forefront. Your resilience under pressure is commendable, and your commitment to high-quality care is indispensable to the well-being of our communities.
Nurses in the private sector also play a critical role in health care. Your focus on quality care and not just financial considerations, stems from a genuine desire to improve the health and happiness of individuals and families. This commitment not only uplifts our healthcare mission but also enhances the overall resilience of our health system.
I urge every member of the entire healthcare team—doctors, nurses, support staff, and administrators—to collaborate closely, placing patients at the centre of our efforts. By fostering a culture of teamwork and mutual respect, we can ensure that our healthcare system delivers optimal care and the best possible outcomes for all.
As we look to the future, I call on the National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS) and the University of Seychelles (UNISEY) to work together in developing even more innovative training programmes for nurses. These initiatives will equip our nursing professionals with the skills necessary to meet present and future challenges and enhance the quality of care that our healthcare system provides.
My government is committed to supporting growth and advancement of the nursing professionals. We are dedicated to creating pathways for further training and career progression, including opportunities for nurses to become practitioners of advanced nursing. Your expertise is vital for the future of healthcare in Seychelles.
With the imminent construction of the new Seychelles Hospital, we face exciting prospects for our nursing workforce. This modern facility will enhance the standards of care we offer and create new avenues for you to advance your professional journeys and assume leadership roles within our evolving healthcare landscape.
As we reflect on the values that define nursing, I urge every nurse, regardless of where you practice, to uphold the oath you have taken—a commitment to service, ethical care, and dedication to the well-being of your patients. Let the selflessness, compassion, and unwavering determination of Florence Nightingale along with those of the exemplary Seychellois nurses who have paved the way before you, continue to inspire you. Their legacy of care and commitment should serve as your guiding light.
On this International Nurses Day, with profound appreciation, I wish all nurses joy, strength, and continued success. Thank you for your unrelenting dedication and for embodying the compassionate care that Seychelles deeply values.
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Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.
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