Health care assistants honoured |17 June 2023

Ms Bibi and Ms Victor (second and third left respectively) in a souvenir photograph with Minister Vidot and Dr Louange

To commemorate International Health Care Assistant’s Day which falls today, the Ministry of Health organised a special event yesterday to honour its health care assistants.

The recognition ceremony, the first to be held for public health care assistants, was held at the Sheikh Khalifa Diagnostic Centre at the Seychelles Hospital.

It was attended by the Minister for Health, Peggy Vidot; the chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Dr Danny Louange; the World Health Organisation (WHO) representative for our country, Dr Rex Mpazanje; chief nursing officer, Dr Gylian Mein; senior management staff; invited guests and the health care assistants from public health across the country.

During the ceremony, two of the longest-serving health care assistants – Marie-Alice Bibi and Germaine Victor – were honoured for their dedication and professionalism.

Ms Bibi from the Logan Hospital on La Digue has served for 42 years, while Ms Victor from the Mental Home has served for 44 years.

It was Minister Vidot who had the privilege to honour the two health care assistants.

Also during the ceremony a group of health assistants who participated in an upskill training programme last year and another group who underwent a first aid training programme, received their certificates. 

Health care assistants or nursing assistants as they are better known, work in different units such as district health centres, maternity, ICU, occupational health, ophthalmology, operating theatres, specialist outpatients, rehabilitation services and homes for the elderly. They work alongside nurses to provide basic care to inpatients, as well as with doctors and nurses in primary care settings, where they assist with health promotion activities and other health programmes.

In her address for the occasion, the principal nursing officer, Elsia Sinon, commended the work of the health care assistants and urged everyone to express their gratitude for the vital role they play in our health care system.

“They show up every day to support our loved ones with chronic complex conditions, with physical or with disabilities and those that require end of life care. They take care of our elderly and the most vulnerable. Their hard work and dedication inspire us to do all that we can to support them so that they can continue to provide the best care possible to our people,” said Ms Sinon, who urged the assistant health care workers to inspire and motivate others to join this noble career.

The health care assistants also had the opportunity yesterday to participate in a debate on their role and mission and on the way forward to improve in their career.

“This marks the first time nursing assistants are honoured in such a way in regards to their dedication, proficiency and enduring service, working alongside nurses and midwives to assist patients with needs of daily living and other healthcare tasks. They are an extremely important asset to the health care services,” says Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Gylian Mein.

The profession of Nursing Assistant began during World War I (1914-1918), when 8,000 nursing assistants were deployed to serve in the Red Cross Programme. Health care assistants have had a day of recognition when their efforts are celebrated and appreciated around the world since 1977 when every year, on June 17, the world celebrates their day.

The Health Care Agency employs 231 health care assistants, 52% of whom work in primary care settings and the remainder at the Seychelles Hospital. Health care assistants also work in the private health sector.

Patrick Joubert

Photos by Louis Toussaint