nuRses install new exeCutive boaRd

charge of installation to the incoming Eleuthera NACB board, and commented, “Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve or to help.” She continued, “Officers, nurses, I’m not telling you that it is going to be easy, but I am telling you - it is going to be worth it. And if you are going to restructure and restabilize the nursing profession, you are going to have to be united. If you are divided you will fall. I want to encourage you, that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.”

Mrs. Ingraham further stated that the new board’s responsibilities ahead, was to make the branch strong, to be dedicated to helping their colleagues throughout The Bahamas, to achieve educational and professional development goals, and to speak with one voice on issues pertinent to the profession of nursing.

munities that we serve.”

When asked about what some of the challenges were, faced by nurses currently in Eleuthera in their line of work, Nurse Johnson shared, “Some of the things you hear resounding throughout the island is the environment, the conditions that we find ourselves in trying to provide care - especially, critically ill patients. Also, supplies, to be able to do the work that we need to do. Sometimes medication is definitely an issue - in getting them, but we don’t let that stop us. We continue to try and do what we can, because we are providers of care. So, a lot of times we improvise, just to ensure that the public we serve, they don’t fall short.”

The Eleuthera district, including the mainland, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, has a complement of approximately 40 nurses stationed within eight main clinics, and five satellite clinic locations, informed Chairperson Johnson. In light of the promised refurbished and new health facilities slated for the island, she described how they thought the upgrades could change the delivery of healthcare in Eleuthera from a nursing perspective, saying, “We are looking forward to the facilities... It is very much needed, to be able to stabilize our patients and provide tertiary level care for our clients. Things that we can manage here - these persons wouldn’t have to fly into Nassau - we can actually manage some conditions here on the island and prevent all of that transportation back and forth... So, we await it.”

As the professional body for nurses on the island, the Eleuthera branch of the NACB, said Mrs. Johnson, was involved in a lot of collaborative community initiatives. She stated, “We want to continue, and in addition, we want the public to be aware of the work that our nurses do - and to appreciate what they are doing.” do.

A moment of silence during the ceremony was taken to remember Senior Nursing Officer, Mrs. Monique Roberts-Cambridge of Hatchet Bay, who passed away in September of 2022. Colleagues described her as a nurse extraordinaire, and cherished the thought that Mrs. Roberts-Cambridge had been personally honoured and recognized by her peers in Eleuthera in May of 2021, while she was alive and with them, to appreciate the accolades.

Founding Chairperson of the Eleuthera Branch of the NACB, Mrs. E. Regina Ingraham, then brought the

Visiting NACB Vice President, of the New Providence branch, Ms. Allea Brown, delivered words of congratulations on behalf of NACB National President, Mrs. Joeanna Curry, and assisted with the official pinning of the incoming Eleuthera branch board members.

Commenting on the vision for the upcoming term, as they fulfill their duties throughout Eleuthera, Nurse Cornell Johnson said, “Our goal is to maintain professionalism and promote excellence... We want to focus on empowering and boosting the morale of our nurses in our various clinics... After and during the pandemic, it has been hard - so we want to hone in on the needs of our nurses and connect with them, encourage them - and continue to promote the high standard of care for the com- lenge myself, and to write something that not just resonated with a Bahamian audience, but also a wider audience - something that anyone could watch, from any background - and totally get the message I was trying to get across. This was my first film, like a trial and error. I was really proud of myself when I saw the outcome of it. I always wanted to see my name on the big screen. So when I actually saw it for the first time - I felt like, ‘hmmm... I did a good job’.

About the inspiration to bring his works to Eleuthera and engage with audiences here, he commented, “Because of funding, it’s really hard to bring your work to different islands, especially if you want to bring the cast. But, seeing that one of the cast was from here (Lakiesha Ferguson), we thought it was a good idea to showcase what she has been doing on the outside. Also, being friends with people like Malikah Pinder, and I’ve worked with her... I wanted to showcase my talent, to bring local talent on board, and let us all take The Bahamas to the world, and the bring the world back to The Bahamas.”

Sharing some of the challenges in the local film industry, Dario described, “We really need funding to take this to the next level, so that the international market can see that The Bahamas too can produce A-Listers in terms of acting, producing, and the whole nine yards... I think the government also needs to shine the light on performing arts in the country. We made it in sports, so, I don’t know why we can’t do it in performing arts... But we can’t just sit back and wait on someone to do it. You just have to find a way to do it yourself... You have to be passionate about what you are doing.”

While in Eleuthera, Dario worked with more local talent on a short film, ‘Deranged’, coming soon, which he said features many locations in Governor’s Harbour, and other parts of the island.

About his films, he said, “I try to keep things to where the whole family can come out (age 13 and above). I want people to laugh, and dance and cry, but even more I want people to really get an inspiring story. I don’t want to preach to you, but I do want the audience to walk away with some moral or thought to re-examine one’s self.”