By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 13: Professional nurses play a vital role as the backbone of the medical delivery system, serving as the crucial link between patients, doctors, and families.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said nurses are the “first to meet” in every medical journey, from consultation to diagnosis and treatment.
“In today’s healthcare landscape, professional nurses are not only responsible for clinical care and treatment. They also attend to the emotional well-being of patients and their families, especially those battling serious illnesses such as cancer,” he said when speaking at the Sarawak Nursing Professional Association (SNPA) Kuching Branch appreciation dinner held at a hotel here last Saturday (Nov 8).
He added that nurses also provide medical education, offer advice on pre- and post-treatment care, and conduct visits to postnatal mothers, further highlighting their indispensable role in the community.
Reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic, Snowdan said nurses stood as the nation’s real-time frontliners, putting their own lives and families at risk to safeguard others.
“More often than not, these sacrifices by our nurses are overlooked and taken for granted by the public. In all instances, whether we are well or sick, we should appreciate the services, sacrifices, and contributions of these professional nurses to our society. Some of us only remember them when sickness strikes,” he said.
Snowdan also commended SNPA Kuching Branch, led by chairperson Tilen Jok, for successfully organising the appreciation dinner to honour the nursing community’s dedication and commitment.
During the event, he announced a Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant worth RM20,000 for the association to support its annual activities.
He further encouraged the association to collaborate with Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), an agency under the Tourism Ministry, should it wish to host international events involving foreign participation in the future.
Snowdan concluded by reaffirming his ministry’s support for initiatives that celebrate and empower the nursing profession, recognising it as a cornerstone of Sarawak’s healthcare system. — DayakDaily
