Empowered nurses key to better healthcare

May 12, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

International Nurses Day 2026 is being observed under the theme: “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives” The focus of the theme is on the “strengthening of health systems by empowering nurses through safe working conditions, fair pay, and greater influence in policy.” According to the International Council of Nurses the theme also “emphasizes that in times of global pressure, empowering nurses with safe working conditions, fair pay, and decision-making authority is essential to maximizing their life-saving impact and strengthening health systems.”

In a previous message I made the point that “nurses perform invaluable services to the Nation and therefore should be pampered and treated with the respect, dignity and admiration they deserve.” To this end, these professionals have impacted the lives of every citizen Countrywide, including the political hierarchy, who has the power and opportunity to invest in the nursing profession to bring about the required life-saving impacts in healthcare.

A few years ago, the PPP/C Administration limitedly addressed the financial pressures faced by some categories of nurses, but failed to address the problems holistically, because they defiantly avoided meeting with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the Workers Representative. This was compounded by the fact that the attrition rate within the profession required these professionals to work long hours, sometimes in harsh working conditions without adequate compensation.

The seemingly untrained human resources management that treat with Nurses’ matters at hospitals, among other things, not only hinder the upward mobility of some nurses within the profession, but also their access to benefits. These circumstances have continued to be disruptive and destructive for the state of health in Guyana.

The GPSU is also very appalled and disturbed by the lack of suitable responses or feedbacks to such violations, when related representations are made to management of hospitals, including Government inaction when related letters are copied to the Executive for information and necessary action, in accordance with existing legally binding Collective Labour Agreements. Most recently the Government agreed on measures to further enhance the conditions of service of Registered Nurses, but to date these benefits have not been implemented by the Executive.

Policy makers and their representatives urgently need to address: (a) the authoritarian and disrespectful treatment meted out to Nurses in Guyana; (b) where necessary, the unsafe and substandard work environments these healthcare professionals are required to work under; (c) the grossly inadequate remuneration and other undesirable conditions of service; and (d) last, but not least, the spiraling attrition rate that affects the availability, quality and timeliness of lifesaving healthcare. If these matters are given the urgent attention, they deserve the healthcare delivery index would improve tremendously.

Nevertheless, on behalf of the Executive Council, staff and membership of the GPSU, I would like to extend best wishes for a safe and enjoyable International Nurses Day 2026 to all Nurses and their families, who continue to make tremendous sacrifices during their work in Service to the Nation.

Sincerely, GPSU

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