Pastor Dermoth Baptiste (left) president of the church in St. Vincent and the Grenadines hands a care package to Peggy DaSilva, chief nursing officer in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in representation of 100 care packages that will go towards displaced nurses and frontline workers on the islands after the eruption of La Soufriere volcano which erupted early in April displacing more than 20,000 people. The special ceremony was held on May 14, in honor of the International Nurses Day, at the church’s headquarters in Kingstown, St. Vincent .[Photo: Kerry Kerr]
May 25, 2021 | Kingstown, St. Vincent | Kerry Kerr and Inter-American Division News Staff

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Vincent honored dozens of nurses and frontline workers for putting their health and lives on the line every day for the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The special ceremony highlighted their tireless work in fighting an increase in the number of dengue fever cases, the COVID-19 pandemic and injuries caused by the recent eruption of La Soufrière, a volcano on the island of St. Vincent.

More than 100 cases of water and care packages were handed over to the island’s health officials at the church’s headquarters office in Old Montrose, Kingstown, on May 12 commemorating International Nurses Day. The event focused on providing care packages for nurses and health professionals who have been displaced due to the volcanic eruptions.

Church leaders, nurses and health officia ls in St. Vincent pray for the many nurses and frontline workers who have worked hard through the pandemic, a dengue fever outbreak and the volcano eruptions this year. [Photo: Kerry Kerr]
“Today is a very important day in the calendar of nurses in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Pastor Dermoth Baptiste, president of the church in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  “We would like to congratulate you nurses for the tremendous work you have been doing over the years. We recognize that this is a difficult time for those displaced and those who ensure the nation’s health must also be taken care of. “We hope this small gesture will bring them a moment of comfort and self-care, for we appreciate all that our nurses have done and will continue to do,” said Baptiste. Baptiste was joined by the church’s health ministries director and National Adventist Health Professional Association director on the islands who also shared their appreciation for the outstanding work nurses have continued to do.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chief Nursing Officer Peggy DaSilva praised the Adventist Church for the kind gesture and the humanitarian service provided to the community.

“As nurses we have been at the core of the pandemic, working across all sectors. Then the explosive eruption of the volcano added an element which wasn’t expected. Through this gesture you the church are highlighting how valuable nurses are to the health care system.”

Church members put together 100 care packages for 100 nurses and frontline workers in St. Vincent. [Photo: Kerry Kerr]
DaSilva thanked church leaders for demonstrating, in a very tangible, appreciation for nurses.

“You are a true reflection of what the church ought to be doing, ministering both to our spiritual and physical needs. Thank you for seeing us, thank you for investing in us,” she added.

Senior Nursing Officer for Hospital Services on the islands Viola Richardson praised the commitment of the church in helping so many citizens through tough times. “Activities such as these give an extra push to nurses who may be on the brink of burnout,” said Richardson.

Church leaders also distributed pharmaceutical products donated by the Adventist Community Hospital in Port-au-Spain, Trinidad, to St. Vincent’s Milton Cato Memorial Hospital medical stores.