WILLEMSTAD – MFK Member of Parliament Ishahier Monte has submitted a proposal to the Minister of Health to expand Curaçao’s annual Nurses Day into an entire week dedicated to education, public awareness and recognition of healthcare professionals.
Monte said the initiative is intended to give greater visibility, respect and appreciation to nurses and other healthcare workers and to help the public better understand the responsibilities and challenges they face in their daily work.
Under the proposal, the week would include educational and informational activities explaining the work performed by healthcare professionals and the services provided by different healthcare organizations across Curaçao. Residents would also receive information about where they can obtain specific forms of care and how different healthcare institutions work together.
Monte stressed that nursing should not be viewed simply as a job, but as an essential profession that carries significant responsibility within Curaçao’s healthcare system.
Recognition would be another important component of the proposed week. Monte wants healthcare institutions and departments to nominate nurses who have distinguished themselves through their work.
The week would culminate in a special recognition ceremony during which selected nurses would receive awards. Monte also proposes honoring prominent figures who have made an important contribution to nursing in Curaçao.
Among the examples mentioned are the late Rinia Thijm, founder of the nursing school IFE, who could receive posthumous recognition, and Pietje Rosario, a former director of IFE. The precise structure and name of the proposed award still need to be developed.
Monte believes greater public recognition of nurses could also help make healthcare education more attractive to young people considering their future careers.
The parliamentarian said the proposal could complement efforts by Health Minister Tyron Boekhoudt concerning possible salary improvements within the healthcare sector. In Monte’s view, financial improvements and greater professional recognition could together help motivate existing healthcare workers while encouraging young people to enter the profession.
Monte is proposing that the plan be developed in cooperation with healthcare workers’ union CBV, arguing that employees and their representatives should have a direct role in shaping the initiative.
The MFK parliamentarian hopes the proposal can be further developed and implemented in time for Curaçao to begin seeing the first results next year.