Nurses are the most important group of professionals in the health care services worldwide.

This was said by the District Medical Officer (DMO) for Motebang Hospital, Dr Bennette Obi on the occasion to mark International Nurses Day in Leribe on Wednesday.

Dr Obi said Nursing is a noble profession that maintains life, adding that it is without borders as it can be practiced in hospitals, clinics, community level and at home.

He however said despite the good job they do, nurses are blamed for everything that goes wrong in the health care sector, while many of them contract diseases from patients and die on duty, trying to help.

The DMO urged nurses to solace in the fact that they are serving and helping God to maintain his creation, saying God will surely reward them accordingly.

He advised nurses, who joined the profession without dedication to search their conscience and perform their duty as expected.

He further said that patients in hospitals and homes need support and care to survive, appealing to nurses to continue rendering that service even when it is difficult.

The day was marked with the aim to honour birth of the founder of nursing profession, Florence Nightingale, who was born in Italy on 12 May 1820.

It was marked with the theme 'Quality services-Nurses working with community. Nurses leading primary health care.'

Activities of the day included a procession and free examination of the public on various diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, oral health, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

Meanwhile, the hospital's Matron, Ms. Mpoeetsi Makau, said 203 adults and seven children were examined on various diseases during the celebration.

She said, 37 people took HIV/AIDS tests, 16 of them tested positive and they were referred to medical doctors in the hospital, while 21 tested negative and they were advised to maintain their status for good health.

Ms. Makau expressed concern at the high number of TB patients as the TB ward is always full. She added that the hospital is also facing a problem of malnutrition in children less than five years, who are admitted at the hospital.

Motebang hospital in Leribe has six medical doctors and a dentist, 36 professional Nurses and 37 Nursing Assistants. It accommodates 288 patients.

The International Nurses Day is an annual event marked on May 12 to create awareness on the role played by nurses to offer primary health care services to the public.

Source: LENA 15/05/2008