“The noblest of occupations and who knows if the most pleasant is that of a nurse”, as our National Hero José Julián Martí Pérez used to say, and he was not wrong, today, despite the shortages they face, nurses are essential in patient care.
This army of white coats, which in Contramaestre, a municipality in eastern Cuba, numbers more than 600, celebrates International Nurses’ Day on May 12, which this year is presided over by the slogan “Our nurses. Our future. The economic power of care”.
With a day full of initiatives, the nursing branch of the General Teaching Hospital Orlando Pantoja Tamayo of Contramaestre, made up of more than 300 nursing professionals, is developing these days multiple initiatives aimed at exalting their work and carrying out research activities to raise their scientific and technical level, as expressed by Dania Cardoso Ayala, vice-president of the nursing branch of the flagship public health institution of the territory.
“Within the activities we have the update of the murals, the visit to the centers of Basic Secondary Education “José Tey Saint_ Blancard and the Pre-University Antonio Santiago García to make conversation with the students about pregnancy in adolescence, as well as assault to the general guard of the medical institution to publicize the activities for the day.
Special morning lectures on the date, blood donations and a meeting with retired nurses to learn about their experience are added to the initiatives for May 12, International Nursing Day”.
The Nursing Branch in the “Orlando Pantoja Tamayo” of Contramaestre stands out for the high scientific level of its members of which 222 are graduates, 7 specialists and 4 masters, while 25 of them are emerging basic nurses.
The master Santiago Ramos Rojas distinguishes among them. Example of professional, with dedication to his work, dedication, commitment and integrity are some of the qualities that stand out in him.
Journalist: Do you consider the nurse’s work essential?
Nurse: It is essential in the care of both serious and less serious patients, as well as in the different levels of medical care, hence the importance of scientific and technical improvement.
“In the hospital, the work is fundamental in the Maternal and Child Care Program, in the attention to the geriatric patient, as well as in the delivery room and a great number of tasks that would be impossible without the nurse’s help.
Q: How does Santiago feel when he saves lives outside our borders?
E: “It is very stimulating to provide care to the poorest in sometimes very adverse situations and it is very stimulating to be able to save human lives with your strength and knowledge, which is the essence of our profession. I feel very proud and I thank the Revolution that formed us, our health system.
We put all these teachings into practice when we go to face epidemics such as Ebola, covid, dengue, as well as to collaborate in countries where natural disasters have occurred.All this rejoices us and serves as a driving force to continue working and defending public health around the world.
As a profession of service and also of many challenges, dedication and altruism, the work of nurses is fundamental to promote health, prevent diseases and sustain patient care.
This is what happens in the “Orlando Pantoja Tamayo” health institution that counts on the work of nurses in each of its services.
A group that every day reflects its knowledge, judgments and technical skills and a series of attributes and attitudes in each treatment, in each patient. This is ratified by Yanelis Cruzata Leiva, Head of Nursing at the Orlando Pantoja Tamayo Hospital in Contramaestre.
