Nursing is a noble profession that requires dedication, compassion, love and care to patients.

The National University of Lesotho Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adelani Ogunrinade said this at the 8th graduation ceremony of Roma College of Nursing on Saturday.

He reminded the graduants of their commitment to provide health services to the Basotho nation, adding that nursing is also an attractive profession because of the employment opportunities it offers these days especially in the United Kingdom and United States.

Professor Ogunrinade congratulated the nurses for their achievements and also commended nursing educators for the training they provided to the gradaunts.

Speaking at the same occasion, St. Joseph Hospital-Medical Superintendent, Dr. Juliana Samson-Akpan said the theme for this year's graduation is 'Providing client centered care' which implies commitment to a person, not a disease or knowledge.

She said a holistic health care cannot be given or properly managed without appropriate education and training.

Dr. Samson-Akpan further said trained personnel in all cadres, medical, nursing, paramedical and others are too few and overstretched and as a result, she appealed to the government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to look into this priority area.

She encouraged the graduants to always reflect the ideals of the Hospital and Roma College of Nursing and lead a free humanity of preventable ailments, suffering and death particularly from HIV/AIDS.

The graduants representative Mr. Molefi Makutle encouraged his colleagues to provide effective services to the nation for the promotion of quality life and good health.

He requested the government to build more nursing schools in the country to address a limited number of nurses in hospitals.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of Archbishop Bernard Mohlalisi of the Roman Catholic Church, NUL Registrar, medical doctors, nurses and the public.

38 graduants received Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery, and eleven of them also received awards for their outstanding performances in various areas of nursing.

Source: LENA 03/11/2007