International Nurses day was celebrated on Thursday 12th. This year’s theme, chosen by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) was ‘Counterfeit kills – Nurses target counterfeit medicines’. The Nursing Association celebrated their special day at the Tamil League Hall in Réduit, which began with the lighting of the nurse’s lamp and the nurse’s prayer. The president of the association, Francis Supparayen, then adressed the assembly.

He highlighted the fact that this theme was important because it is still a current affair. 10% of medicines in circulation around the world are counterfeit and 25% of medicines in third world countries do not respond to the necessary medicational norms. Every year, the traffic of counterfeit medicine generates $32 billion.

Nurses are affected by this because, if the medication they are administering to patients is faulty, they feel guilty and the consequences can be deadly. According the secretary-general, Govindass Nathoo, mesures are being taken, such as awareness programs, in collaboration with the nurses as well as non governmental organisations (NGOs), but he also affirms that loopholes will always exist.

For example packaging needs to be more professional and the composition of the medication should be indicated. Another prominent point of the president’s speech was the absence of the minister of Health, Ashok Jugnauth. Nurses already consider that they are not given the importance they merit, so this absence was most unappreciated and they made themselves heard. Nonetheless, the nurses managed to enjoy the entertainment offered to them! A break that they feel is well deserved.