Sophia Martelly, the First Lady of Haiti, visited Friday, May 11, 2012, the National School of Nurses, on the eve of International Nurses Day.

On the occasion of this celebration, Ms. Martelly shared with students a moment of happiness, in solidarity with them and of gratitude towards the teaching staff, including Marie Yolène Nazaire, the Director, whose work was greatly appreciated. A wreath has been hand-delivered by the First Lady.

Celebrated this year under the theme "Bridging the gap: From evidence to action", the International Nurses Day 2012 proposes, according to official document, to give nurses the means to identify what evidence use, to know how interpret them and determine to what extent the expected results from the application of evidence is important enough to justify changes to current practice.

In 2012, the International Council of Nurses wishes that the latter know how to identify the best evidence, given the needs and preferences of service users, while applying their own expertise, skills and clinical judgment to determine to what extent these evidences are applicable in their local context.

The First Lady acknowledged the importance of Haitian nurses who since the January 2010 earthquake, have seen increase their responsibilities in the care of patients. She invited them to put their intelligence at the service of the latter and be proud of this vocation to practice the trade the most wonderful in the world.

Sophia Martelly invited the National School of Nurses, as well as all institutions that train professionals in this field, to redouble their efforts to modernize and improve the quality of training of male and female nurses in Haiti, they who every day contribute to alleviate the suffering of thousands of patients, without never resign from this responsibility which is theirs.

HL/ HaitiLibre